Waking up and staring at a grid of letters can feel like a personal attack some mornings. Honestly, the NYT Strands puzzle for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, is exactly that kind of vibe. If you’ve seen the theme "Oh boy!" and immediately started looking for words like Mickey or Child, you aren't alone. I did the same thing. It turns out, the New York Times editors are leaning more into the exclamation than the noun today.
Basically, the strands hints today parade and other community discussions are all buzzing about how this puzzle isn't about people at all. It's about a specific feeling. That feeling when you're just... really, really ready for something.
The logic behind today's "Oh boy!" theme
When we say "Oh boy!" in a happy way, it’s usually because we're pumped. Think of it as synonymous with "Wow!" or "I can't wait!" This puzzle is a collection of adjectives and a specific three-word phrase that captures high energy.
If you're stuck, try to think of how you felt when you were a kid on the last day of school. Or how you feel right before a concert starts. You’re not just happy; you’re something much more intense.
Quick hints to get you moving
- The Spangram: It’s a 11-letter motivational phrase. It starts with an L and ends with an S. It’s vertical today.
- A big adjective: There’s a 12-letter word in the bottom right that starts with E.
- The "Z" word: If you see a Z near the bottom left, it's part of a word that means "having great energy or enthusiasm."
Strands hints today parade: Breaking down the word list
Kinda like a puzzle within a puzzle, right? The actual answers are all about being fired up.
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FERVENT
This one usually trips people up. It’s in the top-left area. It starts with F and it's 7 letters long. It describes having a really intense passion for something.
EAGER
A classic 5-letter word starting with E. You'll find it sitting just below Fervent. It’s that "champing at the bit" feeling.
ZEALOUS
That Z I mentioned? It’s right here. 7 letters. It’s often used in a religious or political context, but here it just fits the "over-the-top excited" vibe the puzzle is going for.
EXCITED
The easiest one of the bunch, probably. It’s tucked away in the top-right corner. It’s 7 letters and starts with EX. If you found this first, the rest of the theme probably clicked into place for you.
ENTHUSIASTIC
The beast of the board. 12 letters. It takes up a huge chunk of the bottom right. Honestly, trying to trace this one without hitting a wrong letter is the hardest part of the whole grid.
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The Spangram: LETSDOTHIS
Today’s Spangram is LET'S DO THIS.
It’s a vertical bridge that splits the board. Most people find the smaller adjectives first, but if you can spot the L-E-T-S combo early, the rest of the board opens up. It’s such a common phrase, yet seeing it without the spaces in a grid makes it look like gibberish for the first thirty seconds.
Why these types of puzzles are getting harder
The New York Times has a habit of making the clues increasingly abstract. Last year, we saw a lot of literal themes—things like "In the Kitchen" or "Types of Birds." Now, in early 2026, they are playing with tone and punctuation. Using "Oh boy!" as a theme is a classic misdirection. It forces your brain to categorize by definition rather than emotion.
If you're looking for a strategy to beat the Strands grid every day, stop looking for the Spangram first. Seriously. Just find any word that isn't a theme word to get your hint meter up. Once you have a hint, the game highlights the exact letters of one theme word. It’s not cheating; it’s a game mechanic.
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Actionable tips for your next Strands game
- Ignore the theme for two minutes. Just hunt for 4-letter words. They fill your hint bar.
- Look for the rare letters. Today it was Z. Whenever you see a Q, Z, X, or J, that's usually the "anchor" for a theme word.
- Trace the edges. Spangrams have to touch two opposite sides. If you see an L or an S on an edge, follow that trail.
For tomorrow's puzzle, keep an eye on the punctuation in the clue. A question mark or an exclamation point usually means the NYT is trying to be clever. Don't let them win.
Now that you've cleared today's grid, take that LET'S DO THIS energy and go tackle the rest of your morning. Or, you know, just go play Wordle.