NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 8, 2026 (#888)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of August 8, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of August 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 August 8, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
It has its ups and downs
Start from the clue “It has its ups and downs”. Once you see what the 6 theme words have in common, the grid opens up quickly.
Hint 1A gentle clue
Read the clue loosely. The 6 answers sit inside that idea; none of them is a definition of it. The spangram runs across the grid, left edge to right, so look for a long sideways path first.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, C, D, L, T, T. Several share a starting letter (C, T).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
ROLLERCOASTER
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with R, ends with R.
AnswersAll theme words
- DROP4 letters
- LOOP4 letters
- TRACK5 letters
- TUNNEL6 letters
- CUTBACK7 letters
- CORKSCREW9 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
#887 · “Struggling to find the words”
Spangram: WHATCHAMACALLIT
Read yesterday’s hints