Today's NYT Strands puzzle is all about the nose — or rather, every colourful word English has ever invented for one. It's a wonderfully silly theme that rewards players who've ever called someone a schnozzle aficionado. Here are all the hints and the full answer list for March 21, 2026.
What Is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is the New York Times' elevated word-search game. Find themed words by connecting letters in any direction — up, down, left, right, or diagonally — and every letter in the grid must be used. Each puzzle has a spangram: a word or phrase that captures the day's theme and spans the entire grid from one side to the other.
Today's Theme Hint
The hint for March 21, 2026 is: "Sniff sniff"
The words are all related to the nose — specifically, the many informal and formal names people use for it. One clue from the puzzle: some people keep them to the grindstone.
Spangram Hint
- Horizontal or vertical? Horizontal
NYT Strands Spangram Answer — March 21, 2026
The spangram for today is: ONTHENOSE
It's a fitting double-meaning phrase — meaning both precisely accurate and, quite literally, located on the nose, which ties perfectly to the theme of nose-related words.
NYT Strands Word List — March 21, 2026
All answers for today's puzzle:
- BEAK
- SNOUT
- HONKER
- MUZZLE
- PROBOSCIS
- SCHNOZZLE
Full Puzzle Answers Summary
Today's theme revolves around informal and formal words for the nose. The spangram ONTHENOSE does double duty — it's a common idiom meaning spot-on, and it literally describes where all these words point. PROBOSCIS is the most clinical of the bunch, borrowed from biology to describe an elongated snout. SCHNOZZLE is perhaps the most playful answer, a Yiddish-influenced slang term that's been charming English speakers for generations. HONKER and BEAK sit somewhere in between — casual, affectionate terms you'd hear in everyday conversation.
For yesterday's puzzle, see our "It Follows." March 18, 2026 NYT Strands hints and answers #745. You can also browse our archive with the "Happy Saint Patrick's Day!" March 17, 2026 Strands answers #744.