Tips, answers and help in today’s New York Times for July 23 #872

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle has a very clear theme. But some answers are long and may be difficult to decipher, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

Read more: NYT Connections turns 1: These are the 5 toughest puzzles yet

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands topic is: Salute to the chief officer.

If that doesn’t help, here’s the guide: Anchors weigh!

Keywords to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find the hidden words that fit the theme of the puzzle. If you’re stuck, search for any words you can find. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the keywords. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any four or more letter words you find will work:

• sweat, hidden, real, fake, mare, naked, shameless, soft, frame

Today’s Strands Puzzle Answers

These are the answers that relate to the topic. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, which is a thematic word that connects from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have them all (I initially thought there were always eight, but I learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the non-Spanish answers:

• Ensign, Admiral, Enlisted, Commander, Lieutenant

Strands spangram today

Strands spangram today is out of hand. To find it, start with the letter N which is three letters to the right in the top row, and then calm down.

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Gayle Faschingbauer Cooper, CNET editor, journalist and pop culture lover, is co-author of Whatever Happened to Pudding? The Lost Games, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s, as well as The Totally Sweet ’90s. She has been a journalist since 1989, working for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. It is the tenth generation in date of birth, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars return, they’ll be first in line.

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