Riffing on iconic moments in music history, the latest NYT Strands puzzle features the nostalgic theme “Breaking up the band.” For anyone who’s ever mourned the split of a favorite group, this puzzle strikes a familiar chord. With clue words like CHEAP and HEADS, players are challenged to reconstruct the names of legendary bands cleverly broken up across the grid.
Finding it tough to connect the pieces? Don’t worry, we’ve gathered all the hints, Spangram direction, and a full list of today’s theme words to guide you through the puzzle.
Today’s Strands Theme:
Breaking up the band
From alt-rock icons to punk legends, this theme highlights bands that parted ways sometimes dramatically, sometimes quietly.
NYT Strands Hint for Today:
What do Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd have in common? That’s your entry point. Today’s puzzle centers around rock groups whose names are broken up into individual words.
- Hint #1: A large rounded orange-yellow fruit popular during Halloween.
- Hint #2: The upper part of the human body.
Strands Spangram Position: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?
The Spangram is mostly HORIZONTAL in direction.
- Starts with: “TO”
- Spangram Hint: A small group of musicians, typically playing rock music.
Today’s Strands Spangram Answer:
The Spangram for Strands #340 on June 23, 2025, is: RockGroups
Today’s Strands Answers:
Here are all the theme words that appeared in today’s puzzle:
- CHEAP
- TRICK
- SMASHING
- PUMPKINS
- TALKING
- HEADS
Each of these pairs refers to a famous band that’s no longer together.
Reflections on Today’s Puzzle:
Today’s puzzle was music to the ears of classic rock fans. If you identified CHEAP or TRICK early on, that gave you a great head start. Recognizing ROCK led many to the Spangram, RockGroups, and from there, it became easier to spot broken-up band names like Smashing Pumpkins and Talking Heads. The split format of the theme words added just the right level of challenge.
Conclusion:
June 23’s NYT Strands puzzle hit all the right notes with a theme that blends music history and clever wordplay. Whether you got to RockGroups first or pieced the bands together one word at a time, it was a fun ride. Let us know which group you spotted first, and don’t forget to return tomorrow for another wordy jam session with NYT Strands!