NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 20, 2026 (#900)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of August 20, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of August 20, 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 20, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Split superlatives
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Split superlatives”. Read it loosely: the 8 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 1A gentle clue
All 8 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
The theme words begin with B, B, C, G, K, P, S, V. Two of them start with the same letter (B).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 7 and 8. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
YOURETHE
8 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with Y, ends with E.
AnswersAll theme words
- BEES4 letters
- BEST4 letters
- CATS4 letters
- GOLD4 letters
- VERY4 letters
- KNEES5 letters
- PAJAMAS7 letters
- STANDARD8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.