NYT Strands Answers for August 14, 2025: Theme, Hints

If the Strands puzzle for Thursday, August 14, 2025 has you stumped, you’re in exactly the right place. Below, you’ll find the official theme, strong hints, the puzzle’s spangram, and all the theme words you need to master today’s challenge.

How NYT Strands Works

The objective:

• Connect letters in the 6×8 grid to form multiple theme words, all fitting the day’s clue.
• Every puzzle includes a unique spangram that runs vertically, horizontally, or diagonally across the grid—a key word that sums up today’s theme.
• Each letter gets used only once.

August 14, 2025: Theme and Hints

• Theme Clue: “Honest-to-goodness.”
• Extra Hint: Think of ways to call someone or something fair and square.

Two Sample Theme Word Hints

• Food sold, cooked, or eaten according to Jewish law.
• Something of undisputed origin—not a copy.

Today’s Strands Spangram

• Spangram (vertical, starts with “BO”): BONAFIDE

This word captures the day’s theme, meaning genuine or authentic.

All Theme Answers for Today’s Strands

• REAL
• GENUINE
• TRUE
• KOSHER
• AUTHENTIC
• LEGITIMATE

Each word is a synonym or close cousin for something truly genuine—nothing fake or imitation here.

Strategy Tips

• Start your search in the grid’s corners—spangrams rarely run diagonally!
• If stuck, collect hints by finding non-theme words of four or more letters.
• Don’t be afraid to play both literally and figuratively with the day’s clue.
• Solving the spangram early can often unlock the rest of the grid quickly.

For more daily NYT puzzle answers—including Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword—bookmark our blog and check in each morning for up-to-date solutions.

Happy solving, and see you again for tomorrow’s puzzle!