NYT Hints, Answers for Jan. 6, 2025

Today's New York Times Strands puzzle (#309, January 6, 2025) challenges players to decipher a theme from the clue "In Neutral" and locate seven related words within a letter grid. This article provides assistance, ranging from general hints to the complete solution.

The puzzle grid is shown below:

Need a hand? Here are some spoiler-free hints to guide you toward the theme:

General Hint 1: Consider things that come in neutral shades.

General Hint 2: Think about colors.

General Hint 3: Focus on subtle, nearly-white colors often considered neutral.

Still stuck? Here are individual word spoilers:

Spoiler 1: One of the words is "Cream."

Spoiler 2: Another word is "Eggshell."

Ready for the full solution? The theme is "Off-White."

The seven words are: Eggshell, Vanilla, Cream, Linen, Ivory, Champagne, and the pangram.

Theme Explanation:

Off-whites are colors that are very close to white but have a subtle tint of another color. These muted shades are often considered neutral. The puzzle words all represent different off-white hues.

Enjoy the puzzle! You can find more Strands puzzles on the New York Times Games website.