NYT Strands Hints and Answers for March 15, 2026 (#742)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of March 15, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of March 15, 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 March 15, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Best of all
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Best of all”. Read it loosely: the 6 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 1A gentle clue
All 6 answers are examples of the theme, not synonyms for it — think of things you would actually meet, not words that mean the same. The spangram runs across the grid, left edge to right, so look for a long sideways path first.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are A, A, D, P, S, S. Several share a starting letter (A, S).
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 5, 5, 7, 7 and 8 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
ACADEMYAWARD
It is a single word of 12 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with A, ends with D.
AnswersAll theme words
- SONG4 letters
- ACTOR5 letters
- SOUND5 letters
- ACTRESS7 letters
- PICTURE7 letters
- DIRECTOR8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.
Yesterday’s Strands
Yesterday’s Strands
#741 · “A math teacher's favorite dessert”
Spangram: HAPPYPIDAY
Read yesterday’s hints