Here's today's Strands answers and hints. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Strands, every day.

Strands has grown in popularity, especially among fans of cerebral challenges. It combines the categorical satisfaction of Connections with the spatial logic of a crossword, wrapped in a daily themed format that keeps players engaged.

Need a bit of help with NYT Strands today? No shame in that, and you've come to the right place. Below, we've compiled some useful hints for Strands #495, as well as the answers, should it come to that.