If youâre tackling todayâs New York Times Strands puzzle and looking for some guidance, youâve come to the right place! Strands is a captivating word game where you must find theme-related words hidden on a letter grid and uncover a special spangram word that ties the theme together.
For August 12, 2025, the theme challenges you to find words all connected by the idea of perfect copies or âspitting images.â Before revealing the answers, weâll provide hints to help you think through the puzzle.
What Is NYT Strands?
Strands is a newer word challenge from the New York Times, combining elements of word search, spelling bee, and thematic discovery. You find words by connecting letters in any direction on a grid, uncovering common theme words, and finally identifying the spangramâa longer key phrase that spans two sides of the grid and encapsulates the whole theme.
Hints for Todayâs NYT Strands (August 12, 2025)
Here are some clues to point you in the right direction:
- The theme revolves around words that mean a perfect copy or a “spitting image.”
- These words suggest duplication, imitation, or near-exact replicas.
- One hint phrase to keep in mind is “Copy Cat.”
- The spangram word contains 8 letters and touches two different sides of the board.
- Some of the words you can try unlocking early include: PORE, LIKE, FELT, SCALE, DITCH, and PLACES (these help unlock hints inside the game).
With these clues, try to think of synonyms or related words that describe exact copies, twins, or duplicates. The theme is all about likeness and replication.

The NYT Strands Answers for August 12, 2025
Ready for the reveal? The words you are looking for today are:
- DOUBLE
- DUPLICATE
- LOOKALIKE
- REPLICA
- FACSIMILE
And the special spangram phrase that ties everything together is:
COPY THAT
This phrase perfectly sums up the theme of todayâs puzzleâwords related to copying or duplicates. The puzzleâs clever word choices capture the idea of being indistinguishably similar, whether it’s a âlookalikeâ person, a âfacsimileâ document, or a âdoubleâ of something else.
Why Todayâs Puzzle Was Fun and Challenging
Todayâs Strands puzzle stood out because of the length and complexity of the theme words, which are longer and less common than usual. Unlocking âCOPY THATâ as the spangram feels like a rewarding finale, sealing the theme with a familiar phrase.
If you enjoy word puzzles that combine strategic letter connections with thematic word discovery, Strands is an engaging daily challenge. Keep practicing, and youâll get better at spotting such thematic bonds quickly!
Thanks for joining the fun with NYT Strands today! Come back tomorrow for fresh hints, answers, and more word game excitement. Keep your brain sharp and your streak alive!