Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns.

The official theme for NYT Strands #454 is... "Next to the bobby pins". And here's an unofficial hint from me: "Head ornaments". If you're still in the dark, here are some useful words to give you those valuable clue tokens: