If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: S-words? (a cutting-edge theme!)

The hint really gets to the point.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The clue refers to types of swords.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today:

Today’s spangram is Blades.

NYT Strands word list for July 21

• Claymore

• Scimitar

• Katana

• Cutlass

• Blades

• Rapier

• Machete

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you’re already playing – on Mashable’s Games page.

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