NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026 (#902)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of August 22, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of August 22, 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 22, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Peak Americana
Today’s theme is “Peak Americana”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 1A gentle clue
The 6 answers belong to one everyday scene. Picture the scene first, then look for its pieces on the board. 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, G, R, S, S, W. Two of them start with the same letter (S).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 5, 5, 5, 7 and 8. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
MOUNTAINRANGE
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with M, ends with E.
AnswersAll theme words
- GREEN5 letters
- ROCKY5 letters
- SMOKY5 letters
- WHITE5 letters
- CASCADE7 letters
- SAWTOOTH8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.