NEW YORK, NY — The week draws to a close with a fresh challenge for word enthusiasts as the New York Times releases its latest edition of Strands. If you are looking to wrap up your Friday morning with a perfect score, we have the breakdown you need. Today’s puzzle, officially numbered as No. 692, offers a theme that might leave you feeling a bit “creamy.”
Be advised: This article contains full spoilers for the January 23 puzzle. If you want to solve it on your own, now is your chance to look away!
Today’s Theme: “Udderly delicious”
The theme for January 23, 2026, is a clever pun that points directly toward the refrigerator. If the word “udderly” didn’t give it away, the puzzle focuses on various items produced in the dairy aisle.
Strategic Hints for Puzzle #692
If you aren’t ready for the full answer list yet, here are three clues to nudge you in the right direction:
- Hint 1: This word is a frozen treat often found in Italian shops (6 letters).
- Hint 2: A thick, fermented dairy product often eaten with fruit or granola (6 letters).
- Hint 3: The Spangram for today is two words combined into one, spanning the board to describe the whole category.
The Solution: All Answers for January 23
For those who have untangled as much as they can and just want the final list, here are the seven theme words (including the Spangram) for today’s grid:
The Spangram
The yellow word that ties everything together is:
- DAIRYPRODUCTS (Starts on the bottom row and winds vertically toward the top).
The Theme Words
- MILK: Found in the upper right corner.
- CHEESE: Runs along the right edge of the grid.
- BUTTER: Tucked into the bottom right corner.
- GELATO: Located on the left side of the board.
- CUSTARD: Found in the bottom left corner.
- YOGURT: Occupies the central-left area.
How Today’s Puzzle Compares
Testers have rated today’s difficulty as Easy to Moderate. Unlike yesterday’s “Ode to Joy” puzzle (No. 691), which required a more abstract understanding of synonyms for happiness, today’s “Udderly delicious” theme is quite literal. Most players found the Spangram early, which quickly opened up the rest of the board.
Tips for Future Strands Puzzles
- Search the Corners: Spangrams rarely start in the extreme corners. If you see a “Z” or a “Q” in a corner, it’s almost certainly a theme word.
- Earn Your Hints: If you find three words that aren’t on the theme list, the game grants you a hint. Don’t be afraid to use them on “Challenging” days!
- The Spangram Rule: Always remember the Spangram must touch two opposite sides of the board (top to bottom or left to right).
For more help with your daily New York Times games, including Wordle and Connections, you can check out our Daily Gaming Resource Hub.
How to Play NYT Strands This video provides a helpful walkthrough of the basic mechanics and strategies needed to master the Strands puzzle format.