NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, May 15 (game #438)

My clues will help you solve the NYT's Strands today and keep that streak going

· TechRadar

News By Johnny Dee Contributions from Marc McLaren published 14 May 2025

(Image credit: New York Times) Jump To:

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 14 (game #437).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #438) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Animal drives

NYT Strands today (game #438) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • BILE
  • MUSE
  • STAGE
  • BOOT
  • POEM
  • PEEL

NYT Strands today (game #438) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #438) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #438) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #438, are…

  • BEETLE
  • BRONCO
  • MUSTANG
  • RABBIT
  • IMPALA
  • JAGUAR
  • SPANGRAM: AUTOMOBILES
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: 2 hints

It took me a while to get going today and the word my hint gave me – BEETLE – didn’t help much, as Beetle Drive is a game. Fortunately, another hint set me on my way: there’s no game called BRONCO Drive.

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