Fri Jul 18 15:10:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Struggling with Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle? You’re Not Alone!**

NEW YORK, NY – July 18, 2025 – Puzzle enthusiasts are finding today’s New York Times Strands puzzle (#502) both entertaining and challenging. The theme, “Abracadabra!” hints at a magical solution, but unscrambling the hidden words has proven tricky for many.

“Today’s puzzle definitely made me laugh, but then I started working on it,” says one user, “It’s tougher than it looks!”

The goal of Strands is to find words related to the theme, including a “spangram” – a theme word that stretches across the entire puzzle board. Finding three words of at least four letters unlocks a helpful hint.

Today’s spangram is **ITSMAGIC**, weaving its way across the grid starting with the I in the farthest row.

For those continuing to struggle, hints and the full solution can be found on various online resources. Some of the most difficult Strands puzzles in the past have revolved around niche topics like dated slang (January 21, toughest word: PHAT) and marine life (January 15, toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT; January 9, toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK).

The New York Times continues to offer a variety of daily puzzles, including Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, catering to a broad audience of word game aficionados.

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