Daily Strands Answers for October 25, 2025

Today’s NYT Strands Answers

The words for today's New York Times Strands puzzle touch upon the theme of transformation, featuring creatures of myth and legend known for their ability to change shape or nature. Below we'll delve into each word and its connection to the theme of "Quite a transformation!"

1. WEREWOLF - A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope, is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction (such as a bite or scratch from another werewolf). This transformation typically occurs on the night of a full moon. In folklore, werewolves are often depicted as creatures with superhuman strength and senses, far beyond those of both wolves and men.
2. VAMPIRE - The vampire is a legendary creature that has appeared in various cultures throughout history, often described as a being that feeds on the vital essence (usually in the form of blood) of the living. In most depictions, vampires can transform into bats, mist, or other animals. This ability to shapeshift helps them hunt and escape detection, adding a key supernatural element to the vampire's arsenal.
3. SKINWALKER - Drawing from Native American folklore, particularly that of the Navajo, a skinwalker is a harmful witch who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal. This transformation is often done with the intent to harm others, making the skinwalker figure one of malevolence and fear. The legend of the skinwalker is an important part of many Native American cultures, though details about these beings are often shrouded in secrecy.
4. CHANGELING - A changeling is a creature found in European folklore and folk religion. It is typically described as being the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child. The changeling could also be an adult placed under a spell. The concept of a changeling is often used to explain the phenomena of children born with abnormalities or suffering from unexplained diseases or disorders.

The spangram "SHAPESHIFTERS" serves as a keyword that encompasses all the above words, linking them under the umbrella theme. In mythology and speculative fiction, shapeshifters are beings with the ability to physically transform themselves into other beings or forms. This can include changing from one sentient species to another (like a human turning into an animal or vice versa) or adopting the appearance of another within the same species.

Each of the words presented in today's puzzle illustrates a different aspect of the shapeshifting theme. From the cursed transformations of werewolves, to the supernatural morphing of vampires, the malevolent witchery of skinwalkers, and the mysterious swaps of changelings, these entities share a common thread of altering their physical forms or identities in profound ways that speak to deep-seated human fears and fascinations.