Struggling with today’s puzzle. You’re not alone.
If you’re hunting for answers to the Mini Crossword, Connections, or Wordle, head over to our dedicated hints page. It covers the usual suspects. But we’re here for Strands today. June 5, Puzzle #824.
Some answers hide deep in the grid. Hard to unscramble. Let’s get to work.
Hint for today: “Put up your dukes!”
The theme asks: “You wanna go?”
It’s not just about walking into a room. It’s about conflict.
How to find hints
Stuck. It happens.
You don’t need to solve the whole grid to get help. Find three words that are four letters long. Strands will then reveal one of the actual theme words. It’s a trade.
Here are words you can look for to unlock those hints. You don’t have to use these. Just find any valid four-letter words.
- RIGS
- PUFF
- WORD
- FUME
- BANS
- LITS
- WITS
- SING
- SINGE
Once you trigger the hint, the real game begins.
The Answers
The goal is to fill the board. Every letter counts. Once you find all the theme words and the spangram, nothing remains empty.
The number of theme words varies. Sometimes eight. Sometimes fewer. Don’t stress the count. Focus on the connections.
Here are the non-spangram solutions. They all mean the same thing essentially. A disagreement that turns physical or loud.
- BRAWL
- CLASH
- MELEE
- SCRAP
- SCUFFLE
- SKIRMISH
The Spangram
This is the long one. It spans from one edge to the other.
Start at the top row. Look for the F three spaces to the right of the corner. Follow the letters down. It winds through the grid like a snake.
FIGHTINGWORDS
There. The grid clicks.
Why some puzzles hurt
I have solved a lot of these. Some are easy. Most are fine. But certain themes feel designed to frustrate.
Two stand out as particularly difficult.
- Dated slang. Did you live through the era? If not, you’re guessing. The hardest word I found: PHAT.
- Whaling terminology. Unless you’re a marine biologist, you’re lost at sea. “Thar she blows.” Tough words: BALEEN or RIGHT.
Maybe that’s the point. Sometimes you just have to know your audience. Or your era.
