NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 8, 2026 (#676)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 8, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 8, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for January 8, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
That's just reality (TV)
The puzzle calls today’s theme “That's just reality (TV)”. Read it loosely: the 5 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, C, F, M, S.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 6, 6, 7, 8 and 10. The shortest is 6 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
THETRAITORS
11 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with T, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- CASTLE6 letters
- SHIELD6 letters
- MISSION7 letters
- FAITHFUL8 letters
- BANISHMENT10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.