Strands Hints

Every edition of our daily NYT Strands hints, newest first. Each entry opens with the theme clue and works down to the spangram, the theme words and the finished grid — so you can stop at the rung that unsticks you.

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2026 2025 2024

November 2026

Tue, Nov 10#982 · Influentially onlineCONTENTCREATOR Mon, Nov 9#981 · Idle chatterSHOOTTHEBREEZE Sun, Nov 8#980 · Disciplined combatMARTIALARTS Sat, Nov 7#979 · In the blink of an eyeWHATSTHEHURRY Fri, Nov 6#978 · Autumn walk in the woodsFORESTFLOOR Thu, Nov 5#977 · Handle with careGIVEMEABREAK Wed, Nov 4#976 · Getting the job doneHUMANRESOURCES Tue, Nov 3#975 · I've got a song in my heartBELTITOUT Mon, Nov 2#974 · High and mightyMOUNTAINTOP Sun, Nov 1#973 · For the rest of the dayZZZZZZZZ

October 2026

Sat, Oct 31#972 · It's in the bagTRICKORTREAT Fri, Oct 30#971 · All charged upPLUGGEDIN Thu, Oct 29#970 · Double, double toil and troubleCAULDRON Wed, Oct 28#969 · Comedy clubFUNNYBUSINESS Tue, Oct 27#968 · Who ya gonna call?EXTERMINATOR Mon, Oct 26#967 · Please, be my guest!HOSPITALITY Sun, Oct 25#966 · Something to build onFOUNDATIONS Sat, Oct 24#965 · Re-fresh-ingLAUNDRYDAY Fri, Oct 23#964 · None of your beeswax!BUSYBODY Thu, Oct 22#963 · Any relation?FAMILYTIES Wed, Oct 21#962 · On a higher levelINTHEATTIC Tue, Oct 20#961 · 🦆🦆 ... 🪿DUCKDUCKGOOSE Mon, Oct 19#960 · It's all Greek to meMYTHOLOGICAL Sun, Oct 18#959 · Fast fashionRUNNINGGEAR Sat, Oct 17#958 · Quite the crushFALLINLOVE Fri, Oct 16#957 · Just a little bitSMALLWORLD Thu, Oct 15#956 · Sailor's guideLIGHTHOUSE Wed, Oct 14#955 · Folk & fairy tale twosomesONCEUPONATIME Tue, Oct 13#954 · Well, this is awkwardCRINGEWORTHY Mon, Oct 12#953 · In a manner of speakingTURNOFPHRASE Sun, Oct 11#952 · They don't make 'em like they used toOLDFASHIONED Sat, Oct 10#951 · A slow drizzleSTICKYANDSWEET Fri, Oct 9#950 · That can't be rightUNBELIEVABLE Thu, Oct 8#949 · A star is bornLUMINARY Wed, Oct 7#948 · Color for the cureTICKLEDPINK Tue, Oct 6#947 · Changing courseTHEOLDSWITCHEROO Mon, Oct 5#946 · Oh well, too bad, such a shameSADTROMBONE Sun, Oct 4#945 · Grab your tokensARCADEGAMES Sat, Oct 3#944 · A figment of your imaginationWILLOTHEWISP Fri, Oct 2#943 · On the sly ...SNEAKINGAROUND Thu, Oct 1#942 · Things fall apartBEYONDREPAIR

September 2026

Wed, Sep 30#941 · An instrumental destinationMUSICSTORE Tue, Sep 29#940 · Have a heartCARDIOVASCULAR Mon, Sep 28#939 · A form of artSCULPTURE Sun, Sep 27#938 · It's skin deepBEAUTYCARE Sat, Sep 26#937 · A breath of fresh airGENTLEWIND Fri, Sep 25#936 · 1✖️1, etc ...SQUARENUMBER Thu, Sep 24#935 · Just outside your doorBACKYARD Wed, Sep 23#934 · Practically paleolithicTHATSOLDNEWS Tue, Sep 22#933 · Day and night shiftFALLEQUINOX Mon, Sep 21#932 · It's back!NINETIESTREND Sun, Sep 20#931 · Putting on airsGRANDIOSITY Sat, Sep 19#930 · Shiver me timbers!TALKLIKEAPIRATE Fri, Sep 18#929 · Shake on itLETSMAKEADEAL Thu, Sep 17#928 · A little comic reliefTHEFUNNYPAGES Wed, Sep 16#927 · Hard not to noticeEYECATCHING Tue, Sep 15#926 · If you build itHARDWARE Mon, Sep 14#925 · OH MY GOSH!!THATSSHOCKING Sun, Sep 13#924 · Top secretUNDERCOVER Sat, Sep 12#923 · Don't obsessLETITGO Fri, Sep 11#922 · Harbor viewONTHEWATERFRONT Thu, Sep 10#921 · Victory lapWEHAVEAWINNER Wed, Sep 9#920 · Over and out(side)SUNANDSHADE Tue, Sep 8#919 · It's elementary!BACKTOSCHOOL Mon, Sep 7#918 · It's a deal!MEETMEHALFWAY Sun, Sep 6#917 · I've seen betterNOTHINGSPECIAL Sat, Sep 5#916 · Informally known asCRITTER Fri, Sep 4#915 · To the rescueHEROES Thu, Sep 3#914 · Hike!FOOTBALL Wed, Sep 2#913 · All will be revealedCOMETOLIGHT Tue, Sep 1#912 · Called by your callingWORKINGTITLE

August 2026

Mon, Aug 31#911 · With a little elbow greasePOWERWASH Sun, Aug 30#910 · Hardly eagerIDRATHERNOT Sat, Aug 29#909 · Now we're cooking!SOUNDSTASTY Fri, Aug 28#908 · On this day in 1963IHAVEADREAM Thu, Aug 27#907 · Spiraling definitionsWHATATWIST Wed, Aug 26#906 · All in a day's workPARTOFTHEJOB Tue, Aug 25#905 · Enjoying natureTAKEAHIKE Mon, Aug 24#904 · You can't eat just oneCOOKIEJAR Sun, Aug 23#903 · An epic journeyTHEODYSSEY Sat, Aug 22#902 · Peak AmericanaMOUNTAINRANGE Fri, Aug 21#901 · Celebrate!LIFESAPARTY Thu, Aug 20#900 · Split superlativesYOURETHE Wed, Aug 19#899 · For better or wurstTOPDOGS Tue, Aug 18#898 · Fool me once ...CHARLATAN Mon, Aug 17#897 · On a benderBODYJOINTS Sun, Aug 16#896 · Learn by doingJOBTRAINING Sat, Aug 15#895 · Sacred spaceINCHURCH Fri, Aug 14#894 · Discovered by accidentINVENTIONS Thu, Aug 13#893 · Coming in hotFIREBRAND Wed, Aug 12#892 · Making a differencePHILANTHROPY Tue, Aug 11#891 · Fresh from the marketSUMMERHARVEST Mon, Aug 10#890 · Back it upPROOFPOSITIVE Sun, Aug 9#889 · Isn't that a bit much?IMWORTHIT Sat, Aug 8#888 · It has its ups and downsROLLERCOASTER Fri, Aug 7#887 · Struggling to find the wordsWHATCHAMACALLIT Thu, Aug 6#886 · Blossoming forthFLOWERINGTREE Wed, Aug 5#885 · All things consideredBRAINSTORMING Tue, Aug 4#884 · Staying healthyPHARMACY Mon, Aug 3#883 · There's nothing like itONEOFAKIND Sun, Aug 2#882 · Eyes on the prizeAIMHIGH Sat, Aug 1#881 · "As if!"GETREAL

July 2026

Fri, Jul 31#880 · Summer signLEOTHELION Thu, Jul 30#879 · Trade namesARTISANS Wed, Jul 29#878 · A made manFABRICATED Tue, Jul 28#877 · Leave nothing outITSALLTHERE Mon, Jul 27#876 · Let the journey beginTRAINSTATION Sun, Jul 26#875 · All-knowingBIGBRAIN Sat, Jul 25#874 · Frocks and smocksYOUWEARITWELL Fri, Jul 24#873 · There's more where that came fromANDTHENSOME Thu, Jul 23#872 · Hail to the chief petty officerNAVYRANKS Wed, Jul 22#871 · "What is ..."INJEOPARDY Tue, Jul 21#870 · Write thereSTATIONERY Mon, Jul 20#869 · Small talkITSYBITSY Sun, Jul 19#868 · Big talkSUPERSIZEIT Sat, Jul 18#867 · A healthy breakfastBOWLOFGRANOLA Fri, Jul 17#866 · Categorically speakingTRIVIALPURSUIT Thu, Jul 16#865 · "Rerouting ..."CHANGECOURSE Wed, Jul 15#864 · Rose-colored glassesPIEINTHESKY Tue, Jul 14#863 · Make yourself comfortableHAVEASEAT Mon, Jul 13#862 · Just what I neededHITSTHESPOT Sun, Jul 12#861 · In the Big AppleEMPIRESTATE Sat, Jul 11#860 · Fishy fareCASSEROLE Fri, Jul 10#859 · "I think ..."WECANMAKEIT Thu, Jul 9#858 · On the lipsKISSANDMAKEUP Wed, Jul 8#857 · Here comes troubleLITTLEDEVIL Tue, Jul 7#856 · Hitching a rideIGETAROUND Mon, Jul 6#855 · The growing seasonSUMMERTIME Sun, Jul 5#854 · Barking up the right treeHUNTINGBREEDS Sat, Jul 4#853 · Ooh!FIREWORKS Fri, Jul 3#852 · It's like talking to a brick wallNOTBUDGING Thu, Jul 2#851 · Added flavorGETSAUCY Wed, Jul 1#850 · Not a red herringTELLTALESIGN

June 2026

Tue, Jun 30#849 · "And ... action!"THATSSHOWBIZ Mon, Jun 29#848 · The mark of a good composerMUSICALSTAFF Sun, Jun 28#847 · March in JunePRIDEMONTH Sat, Jun 27#846 · Suite re-leaseAPARTMENTS Fri, Jun 26#845 · "I'll gobble you up!"BILLYGOATSGRUFF Thu, Jun 25#844 · Just relaxSPATREATMENT Wed, Jun 24#843 · Just chillBEVERAGECOOLERS Tue, Jun 23#842 · A whole new worldMINECRAFT Mon, Jun 22#841 · Heebie-jeebiesGOOSEBUMPS Sun, Jun 21#840 · That's included!HOTELAMENITIES Sat, Jun 20#839 · Knicks knackGARDENPARTY Fri, Jun 19#838 · Look to the WestCOWPOKES Thu, Jun 18#837 · Beneath the wavesCORALREEF Wed, Jun 17#836 · In the barnyardFARMING Tue, Jun 16#835 · For here or to go?WHATSFORLUNCH Mon, Jun 15#834 · Moving mountainsYOUVEGOTTHIS Sun, Jun 14#833 · Peer groupNOBILITY Sat, Jun 13#832 · Track eventKARAOKE Fri, Jun 12#831 · Something to talk aboutPARTSOFSPEECH Thu, Jun 11#830 · OozingRHYMETIME Wed, Jun 10#829 · Something just clickedDOWNLOAD Tue, Jun 9#828 · Dramamine, anyone?IMONABOAT Mon, Jun 8#827 · Play timeGAMENIGHT Sun, Jun 7#826 · Herpetology 101COLDBLOODED Sat, Jun 6#825 · With this ring ...TYINGTHEKNOT Fri, Jun 5#824 · You wanna go?FIGHTINGWORDS Thu, Jun 4#823 · Smooth movesPOETRYINMOTION Wed, Jun 3#822 · By any other name ...ROSEGARDEN Tue, Jun 2#821 · Caught in the NetEXTREMELYONLINE Mon, Jun 1#820 · Shall we gather for lunch?FORAGING

May 2026

Sun, May 31#819 · Places to goTOURISM Sat, May 30#818 · We'll be thereGOODFRIENDS Fri, May 29#817 · E-I-E-I-OFARMANIMALS Thu, May 28#816 · Talking scentsFRAGRANCE Wed, May 27#815 · Ketchup or mustard?HOTDIGGITYDOG Tue, May 26#814 · On the nature trailSCAVENGERHUNT Mon, May 25#813 · Thank youMEMORIALDAY Sun, May 24#812 · Turn, turn, turnTRYTOUNWIND Sat, May 23#811 · Staying aliveSURVIVALIST Fri, May 22#810 · Put down your rulerITSBIG Thu, May 21#809 · In a material worldFABRICS Wed, May 20#808 · No rushTAKEYOURTIME Tue, May 19#807 · On the riseHIGHERGROUND Mon, May 18#806 · The daily rindCITRUS Sun, May 17#805 · Strike one!BOWLINGALLEY Sat, May 16#804 · Bon appétit!FRENCHBAKERY Fri, May 15#803 · Weaselly wascalsMUSTELIDS Thu, May 14#802 · Men in tightsROBINHOOD Wed, May 13#801 · You've got ...WHATITTAKES Tue, May 12#800 · Quite the pairFANCYPANTS Mon, May 11#799 · A nice medleyODDSANDENDS Sun, May 10#798 · We all saw itCLEARCUT Sat, May 9#797 · Garden varietiesSPRINGVEGGIE Fri, May 8#796 · Garden varietyRUNOFTHEMILL Thu, May 7#795 · Go right aheadGIVETHENOD Wed, May 6#794 · Get-up-and-go!RISEANDSHINE Tue, May 5#793 · Get up!DIGITALCLOCK Mon, May 4#792 · May the forest be with youBRANCHOUT Sun, May 3#791 · Something's fishyTHATSODD Sat, May 2#790 · All the right movesLINEDANCE Fri, May 1#789 · I ❤️ HawaiiALOHASPIRIT

April 2026

Thu, Apr 30#788 · Wet blanketsCONDENSATION Wed, Apr 29#787 · Fish or cut baitTACKLE Tue, Apr 28#786 · Attention, attention!LIKEAHAWK Mon, Apr 27#785 · The ayes have it!EYEOPENERS Sun, Apr 26#784 · Get into itLOCKHORNS Sat, Apr 25#783 · On the shopping blockSTOREFRONT Fri, Apr 24#782 · HullabalooLETSGETLOUD Thu, Apr 23#781 · Provinces of the pantheonDOMAIN Wed, Apr 22#780 · Earth DayCONSERVATION Tue, Apr 21#779 · Risky businessDAREDEVILS Mon, Apr 20#778 · Gloriously glaring!CATCHTHELIGHT Sun, Apr 19#777 · Small changeTHEREIFIXEDIT Sat, Apr 18#776 · Not too muchONTHECHEAP Fri, Apr 17#775 · Shell companyMOLLUSK Thu, Apr 16#774 · This is not workingJUSTFORFUN Wed, Apr 15#773 · Gift of the monthBIRTHSTONE Tue, Apr 14#772 · It's a little unclearOUTOFFOCUS Mon, Apr 13#771 · While not in useSTORAGESHED Sun, Apr 12#770 · Get ready!INTHEMIRROR Sat, Apr 11#769 · You're putting me onTOPGEAR Fri, Apr 10#768 · On the slyLIKEAFOX Thu, Apr 9#767 · In the paintMEDIUM Wed, Apr 8#766 · We're going under coverBEDCLOTHES Tue, Apr 7#765 · Taking the helmSMOOTHSAILING Mon, Apr 6#764 · Fringe groupOUTERLIMITS Sun, Apr 5#763 · Pouch perfectMARSUPIALS Sat, Apr 4#762 · Early risersSPRINGBLOSSOM Fri, Apr 3#761 · Smooth(ie) operatorTROPICALFRUIT Thu, Apr 2#760 · On trackHORSERACING Wed, Apr 1#759 · Don't make a peepSHHHHHHHHHHHH

March 2026

Tue, Mar 31#758 · While you were sleeping ...THETOOTHFAIRY Mon, Mar 30#757 · For a rainy dayUMBRELLATERM Sun, Mar 29#756 · A bit peckish?FORTHEBIRDS Sat, Mar 28#755 · Just writeCORRESPONDENCE Fri, Mar 27#754 · Just rightTAILORMADE Thu, Mar 26#753 · I blew it!WINDINSTRUMENT Wed, Mar 25#752 · Intermission missionCONCESSIONS Tue, Mar 24#751 · Get over it ... or get through itOBSTACLECOURSE Mon, Mar 23#750 · In piecesBREAKDOWN Sun, Mar 22#749 · Trademarked no moreGENERICTERM Sat, Mar 21#748 · Sniff sniffONTHENOSE Fri, Mar 20#747 · Spring feverTWISTANDTURN Thu, Mar 19#746 · Bring a platePOTLUCK Wed, Mar 18#745 · It followsAFTERLIFE Tue, Mar 17#744 · Happy Saint Patrick's Day!GOGREEN Mon, Mar 16#743 · The Big DanceMARCHMADNESS Sun, Mar 15#742 · Best of allACADEMYAWARD Sat, Mar 14#741 · A math teacher's favorite dessertHAPPYPIDAY Fri, Mar 13#740 · Mountain bandBLUEGRASSMUSIC Thu, Mar 12#739 · Out-and-outDYEDINTHEWOOL Wed, Mar 11#738 · Survival modeDEFENSES Tue, Mar 10#737 · "Hey"GOODDAY Mon, Mar 9#736 · Cute enough to eatENDEARMENTS Sun, Mar 8#735 · That time of year againDAYLIGHTSAVINGS Sat, Mar 7#734 · Nice glasses!DRINKWARE Fri, Mar 6#733 · That's dedicationYOURBIGGESTFAN Thu, Mar 5#732 · That's it?GEETHANKS Wed, Mar 4#731 · Piece of cakeBAKINGAISLE Tue, Mar 3#730 · Everything's in placeSPRUCEDUP Mon, Mar 2#729 · Home office alternativeCOWORKINGSPACE Sun, Mar 1#728 · Dressing downTHERIOTACT

February 2026

Sat, Feb 28#727 · Dressing upGLAMOROUS Fri, Feb 27#726 · It's a little muchENOUGHALREADY Thu, Feb 26#725 · Watch the attitude!TALKINGBACK Wed, Feb 25#724 · That's really out there!SPACECRAFT Tue, Feb 24#723 · Just for referenceLOOKITUP Mon, Feb 23#722 · Strike a chordGUITAR Sun, Feb 22#721 · Olympics wrap-upCLOSINGCEREMONY Sat, Feb 21#720 · The beer necessitiesHOMEBREW Fri, Feb 20#719 · True gritSANDPAPER Thu, Feb 19#718 · Here's a thoughtEUREKA Wed, Feb 18#717 · Cold competitionWINTERSPORTS Tue, Feb 17#716 · The year of the ...ZODIACSIGNS Mon, Feb 16#715 · The cutting edgeFIGURESKATING Sun, Feb 15#714 · "Now I get it!"SEETHELIGHT Sat, Feb 14#713 · XOXOXOHUGSANDKISSES Fri, Feb 13#712 · See what I mean?VISUALAIDS Thu, Feb 12#711 · Sink or swimHIGHSTAKES Wed, Feb 11#710 · Crack and snackGONUTS Tue, Feb 10#709 · It's on the houseSIDINGMATERIAL Mon, Feb 9#708 · Frequent flyerAIRPORTS Sun, Feb 8#707 · Make it fancyCOCKTAILGARNISH Sat, Feb 7#706 · Boo-o-o-o-ringWATCHINGPAINTDRY Fri, Feb 6#705 · Let's face itFEATURES Thu, Feb 5#704 · Quint-essentialGIVEMEFIVE Wed, Feb 4#703 · For the enthusiastHOBBYSHOP Tue, Feb 3#702 · On keySYMBOL Mon, Feb 2#701 · Formidable flockBIGBIRDS Sun, Feb 1#700 · It's a giftGENEROSITY

January 2026

Sat, Jan 31#699 · It's part of the gameHAVEABALL Fri, Jan 30#698 · We're not lost ...FINDYOURWAY Thu, Jan 29#697 · Talk of the townCLAIMTOFAME Wed, Jan 28#696 · Zen stateMINDFULNESS Tue, Jan 27#695 · Canine classicsHEREBOY Mon, Jan 26#694 · Grape expectationsBYTHEBOTTLE Sun, Jan 25#693 · The straight and narrowSTICKYSITUATION Sat, Jan 24#692 · A work of artFAMOUSPAINTING Fri, Jan 23#691 · None the wiserBORNYESTERDAY Thu, Jan 22#690 · Ode to joySEVENTHHEAVEN Wed, Jan 21#689 · That's not very politeDONTBERUDE Tue, Jan 20#688 · Sneak-ing aroundJUSTFORKICKS Mon, Jan 19#687 · Shaking things upLETSROCK Sun, Jan 18#686 · Soft skillsTEXTILEART Sat, Jan 17#685 · That's putting it mildly!FOILEDAGAIN Fri, Jan 16#684 · DC crusaderBATMAN Thu, Jan 15#683 · The ears have it!HEARHEAR Wed, Jan 14#682 · "Oh boy!"LETSDOTHIS Tue, Jan 13#681 · You need to chillFROZENFOOD Mon, Jan 12#680 · Appeal to a hire powerRESUME Sun, Jan 11#679 · Yay!!!THATSGREAT Sat, Jan 10#678 · If not now, when?PROCRASTINATOR Fri, Jan 9#677 · For cubs fansBEARSINMIND Thu, Jan 8#676 · That's just reality (TV)THETRAITORS Wed, Jan 7#675 · Open wideDENTISTSOFFICE Tue, Jan 6#674 · Look up!DEFYINGGRAVITY Mon, Jan 5#673 · Slapped togetherQUICKANDDIRTY Sun, Jan 4#672 · I just know ...SIXTHSENSE Sat, Jan 3#671 · I've never seen that before!BREAKNEWGROUND Fri, Jan 2#670 · Home is where the hearth isSTAYWARM Thu, Jan 1#669 · Not your average joeCOFFEE

Every edition here is checked against the puzzle published for that date. Dates follow the puzzle’s own day in New York, not your local time.