This is a slightly more difficult Strands puzzle than the previous couple, so you’ll need to have your wits about you to avoid losing your streak. If you need some help, I’ve got a few hints for you below.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren
Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Strands today (game #129) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

Today’s NYT Strands theme is… In Neverland

NYT Strands today (game #129) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • DROOP
  • RIND
  • PRAM
  • TONED
  • CORE
  • STRIDE

NYT Strands today (game #129) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

He wouldn’t grow up

NYT Strands today (game #129) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First: right, 3rd row

Last: left, 6th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #129) – the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 129 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #129, are…

  • PIRATES
  • CROCODILE
  • DARLING
  • HOOK
  • LAGOON
  • MERMAID
  • SPANGRAM: PETERPAN

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: Perfect

One thing I like about Strands is the way it flits about from subject to subject without any real pattern. One day you can be tasked with finding garden ornaments, one day it’s things you do in the morning, one day it’s country music stars. Or, in today’s case, PETERPAN.

It’s a long time since I’ve read Peter Pan; I shared it with my daughters when they were little, and watched a couple of the various films with them at that time. But that’s a decade ago now, and I did struggle to recall all of the elements. PIRATES was easy, CROCODILE reasonably so too. But MERMAID and LAGOON… well, I would have struggled to find them if not for the fact that the spangram cut the board neatly in half. I got them all in the end, but it wasn’t the easiest Strands ever. Good fun, though.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Tuesday 9 July, game #128)

  • SCULPTURE
  • PAINTING
  • COLLAGE
  • LITHOGRAPH
  • MURAL
  • SPANGRAM: ARTMUSEUM

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

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