Yesterday's NYT Strands Answer
Stuck on puzzle #1,095? You're in the right place. Work through our hints one at a time, or jump straight to the spangram. Nothing spoils until you tap.
Hints, one at a time
Welcome back, puzzler. Strands #1,095 for Saturday, August 29, 2026 is live. Today's theme clue is "Now we're cooking!", and it points to every theme word hiding in the grid, so read it both literally and figuratively before you start hunting for letters.
Here's how this page works: the five hints below start with word shapes and the spangram's direction before naming any letters, so reveal them one at a time and stop the moment the grid opens up. The spangram sits in the green box further down, locked behind a tap. Nothing here reveals itself on its own, not the spangram and not a single theme word.
Shapes and directions first, letters last. Stop when the grid opens up.
Drumroll, please…
Today's Spangram
Spoiler below · tap to revealTap a tile to uncover one letter of the spangram, or reveal the whole thing.
About yesterday's puzzle SOUNDSTASTY
BUBBLE, CRACKLE, GURGLE, HISS, SIZZLE, SPLATTER, all tied to the clue "Now we're cooking!".
SOUNDSTASTY, spanning the grid edge to edge and summing up today's theme.
A 6 × 8 grid (48 letters), fully tiled by the spangram and theme words with none left over.
Puzzle #1,095, published Saturday, August 29, 2026, with 6 theme words and 683 bonus words found in the grid.
Bonus words (683 found in this grid)
Any of these also work in the grid, they just aren't part of today's theme. Finding 3 unlocks a hint in the game itself.
AALS, ACAI, ACAIS, ACES, ACTA, ACTS, AIZLE, ALACK, ALAE, ALAR, ALAS, ALATE, ALEC, ALECK, ALECKS, ALECS, ALEE, ALES, ALIGN, ALIGNS, ALPS, ALTAR, ALTARS, ALTER, ALTS, ARTAL, ARTEL, ARTELS, ARTLESS, ARTS, ARTY, ASAR, ASPECT, ASPECTS, ASPER, ASSET, ASSEZ, ASSIEGE, ASSIGN, ASSIGNS, ASTELY, ASTRAL, ASTRALS, ATLAS, ATTRACT, ATTRACTS, AZALEA, AZALEAS
BEER, BEERS, BEGS, BEIGE, BEIGEL, BELT, BELTS, BESIEGE, BESIEGER, BESIEGERS, BETS, BETTA, BETTAS, BEZZLE, BLEB, BLEBS, BLEE, BLISS, BUBS, BUILD, BUILDS, BUILT, BUSIER, BUSS, BUZZ, BUZZES
CAAS, CALESA, CALESAS, CALP, CALPS, CARAT, CARATE, CARS, CART, CARTA, CARTAS, CARTE, CARTEL, CARTELS, CARTER, CARTES, CARTS, CASA, CASAS, CASE, CASSIA, CASSIAS, CAST, CASTE, CASTES, CASTLE, CASTLES, CASTRAL, CASTRATE, CASTRATER, CATS, CELS, CELT, CELTS, CEPE, CEPS, CLASP, CLASPER, CLASS, CLASSIER, CLAST, CLAT, CLATS, CLEG, CLEGS, CLEPE, CLEUGH, CRAAL, CRAALS, CRACK, CRACKLES, CRACKS, CRASS, CRATE, CRATER, CRAZIER, CYTE, CYTES
DONG, DONGLE, DONS, DOST, DOUN, DOUR, DREE, DREG, DREGS, DRUG, DRUGS, DSOS
EALE, EALES, EARS, EARST, EASE, EASEL, EASLE, EASSEL, EASSIL, EAST, EBBET, EBBETS, EBBS, ECARTE, ECARTES, ECLAT, ECLATS, EGER, EGERS, EGIS, EILD, EILDS, EISEL, ELATE, ELATER, ELDS, ELECT, ELECTS, ELHI, ELKS, ELSE, ELTS, ELYTRA, ELYTRAL, ERNS, ESCALATE, ESCALIER, ESCALIERS, ESCAR, ESCARS, ESILE, ETAS, ETAT, EUGE, EUGH
GELD, GELDS, GELT, GELTS, GERUND, GERUNDS, GHIS, GILA, GILAS, GILD, GILDS, GILT, GILTS, GIZZ, GIZZES, GLACE, GLACES, GLASS, GLASSIE, GLASSIER, GLAZIER, GLAZIERS, GLEE, GLEG, GLEI, GLEIS, GLIA, GLIAS, GNUS, GREE, GREGE, GRUE, GRUEL, GUERDON, GUERDONS, GUILE, GURGE, GURN, GURNS, GURS, GURU, GURUS
ILEUS, ISSUE, ISSUER, IURE, IZAR, IZARS
LACE, LACES, LACK, LACKS, LACS, LACTASE, LAER, LARS, LASCAR, LASCARS, LASE, LASS, LASSI, LASSIE, LASSU, LAST, LASTLY, LATE, LATER, LATS, LATTE, LATTER, LATTES, LAZAR, LAZARS, LAZIER, LEAR, LEARS, LEAS, LEASE, LEAST, LEAT, LEER, LEERS, LEGER, LEGERS, LEGS, LEIGER, LEIGERS, LEIS, LEPER, LEPS, LERP, LERPS, LESS, LETS, LEUGH, LEZZ, LEZZA, LEZZAS, LEZZIE, LIAS, LIEGE, LIEGER, LIEGERS, LIER, LIERS, LIEU, LIEUS, LIGER, LIGERS, LIGS, LIGURE, LYCRA, LYCRAS, LYTE, LYTES, LYTTA, LYTTAE, LYTTAS
NODS, NOUS, NURD, NURDLE, NURDS, NURS
ONST, ONUS, OSTLER, OSTLERS, OURN, OURS
PEAL, PEALS, PEAR, PEARS, PEARST, PEART, PEARTLY, PEAS, PEASE, PEAT, PECK, PECKS, PECS, PELA, PELAS, PELE, PELES, PELT, PELTA, PELTAE, PELTAS, PELTAST, PELTER, PELTS, PETAL, PETALS, PETAR, PETARA, PETARAS, PETARS, PETRALE, PETRALES, PLAAS, PLACE, PLACES, PLACK, PLACKS, PLAST, PLASTE, PLAT, PLATE, PLATER, PLATTER, PLAZA, PLAZAS, PLEA, PLEAS, PLEASE, PLEAT, PREASE, PREASSE, PREASSIGN, PREASSIGNS, PRELECT, PRELECTS, PRETASTE, PRETASTES, PSALTER
RACA, RACE, RACES, RACK, RACKLE, RACKS, RALE, RALES, RASCAL, RASCASSE, RASE, RASP, RASPER, RASSE, RAST, RATE, RATEL, RATELS, RATER, RATTER, RATTLE, RATTLER, RATTLES, RATTLY, RATTY, RAZZ, RAZZES, RAZZLE, RAZZLES, REAL, REALES, REALS, REAR, REARS, REASSIGN, REASSIGNS, REAST, REASTY, REEL, REGIE, REGILD, REGILDS, REGILT, REGIUS, REGS, REIGN, REIGNS, REIS, RELACE, RELACES, RELIE, REPEL, REPELS, REPLA, REPLACE, REPLACES, REPS, RETASTE, RETASTES, RETRACE, RETRACES, RETRACK, RETRACKS, RETRACT, RETRACTS, RETRAL, REUSE, RUGS, RUND, RUNDLE, RUNDS, RUNG, RUNS
SACK, SACKS, SACS, SAIL, SAILER, SAILERS, SAIS, SALE, SALEP, SALEPS, SALES, SALET, SALP, SALPS, SALS, SALSA, SALSE, SALT, SALTER, SALTS, SARS, SASS, SASSE, SASSIER, SASTRA, SATE, SAZZES, SCAIL, SCALA, SCALAE, SCALAR, SCALARS, SCALD, SCALDS, SCALE, SCALER, SCALERS, SCALIER, SCALP, SCALPEL, SCALPER, SCAR, SCARS, SCART, SCARTS, SCAT, SCATS, SECT, SECTS, SELE, SETS, SETT, SIAL, SIEGE, SIEGER, SIEGERS, SIELD, SIEUR, SIEURS, SIGH, SIGLA, SIGLAS, SIGN, SIGNS, SILD, SILDS, SILE, SILER, SILERS, SILT, SILTS, SIZAR, SIZARS, SLACK, SLACKS, SLAE, SLART, SLARTS, SLAT, SLATE, SLATER, SLATTER, SNOD, SNODS, SODGER, SODGERS, SODS, SONG, SONS, SOUND, SOUNDS, SOUR, SOURS, SOUS, SPEAL, SPEAR, SPEARS, SPEAT, SPEC, SPECK, SPECKS, SPELK, SPELKS, SPELT, SPELTER, SPELTS, SPET, SPLAT, STACK, STAIG, STALE, STALER, STRAE, STYLE, STYLES, SUER, SUERS, SUGH, SUNG, SUNGLASS, SUNS, SURD, SURDS, SURE, SURGE, SUSS, SUSU, SUSUS
TAAL, TAALS, TACE, TACES, TACK, TACKLE, TACKLES, TACKS, TAEL, TAELS, TAIG, TAIGLE, TAIL, TAILER, TAILERS, TAIS, TALA, TALAR, TALARS, TALAS, TALC, TALCS, TALE, TALER, TALERS, TALES, TALI, TARA, TARAS, TARS, TARSAL, TARSALS, TART, TARTER, TARTLY, TARTS, TARTY, TASAR, TASARS, TASLET, TASS, TASSE, TASSEL, TASSET, TASSIE, TASTE, TASTES, TASTY, TATE, TATER, TATLER, TATT, TATTLE, TATTLES, TATTS, TATTY, TAZZE, TEAL, TEALS, TEAR, TEARS, TEAS, TEASE, TEASEL, TEAT, TELA, TELE, TELECAST, TELES, TELESALE, TELS, TRACE, TRACES, TRACK, TRACKS, TRACT, TRACTS, TRASS, TRAT, TRATT, TRATTS, TSAR
UGLIER, UNDO, UNGILD, UNGILDS, UNGILT, UNGUIS, UNREEL, UNSOD, UNSTACK, UNSURE, URDS, URGE, URNS, URUS, USURE
ZACK, ZACKS, ZEBU, ZEBUB, ZEBUBS, ZEBUS, ZILA, ZILAS
Strands strategy that actually helps
Proven habits from top solvers, useful today and every day.
The theme clue is your biggest weapon. Think about it literally, then figuratively, before you touch a single letter.
It always touches two opposite sides of the board, top to bottom or side to side, and it's usually the longest word in the grid.
Any real word you find that isn't part of the theme still earns credit. Find 3 and the game highlights a theme word's letters for you.
Letters don't need to sit in a straight line. A word can zig-zag diagonally, turn a corner, and even double back on itself.
Corner and edge letters have fewer neighbors, so they belong to fewer possible words. Starting there narrows the grid fast.
The theme words and spangram tile the entire grid with nothing left over. Once most words click, the rest is a process of elimination.
How to play NYT Strands
The rules in full, for anyone arriving without them.
Strands is a themed word search from The New York Times. Every letter in the grid belongs to exactly one answer, and one of those answers is the spangram, a word or phrase that describes the theme and stretches all the way across the board.
- 1 Read the theme clue first
The clue at the top points at every theme word. Read it literally, then figuratively, before you start hunting letters.
- 2 Drag through connected letters
Letters connect in any direction, including diagonally, and a word can bend as many times as it needs to. Tap the last letter again to submit.
- 3 Find the spangram
The spangram touches two opposite sides of the grid, top to bottom or left to right, and sums up the theme. It highlights in yellow instead of blue.
- 4 Use the grid as its own hint system
Every letter is used exactly once, so each theme word you find shrinks the search area for the rest. Find three non-theme words of four letters or more and the game gives you a hint.
The New York Times
6 by 8 grid, theme words plus one spangram
None, Strands has no guess cap
Midnight in your local timezone
Finding the spangram early is worth more than finding two theme words, because it names the theme outright and turns the rest of the grid into a filling-in exercise. Look along the edges first: it has to start and end on opposite sides.
Strands, answered
Quick answers to the questions we get every day.
What time does the new Strands puzzle come out?
Strands resets at midnight in your local timezone, wherever you are. If the theme clue in the hero matches the one on your grid, the spangram below is the right one.
What exactly is a spangram?
It's a special theme word that touches two opposite sides of the grid, top to bottom or left to right, and sums up the day's theme clue. Every puzzle has exactly one.
What happens when I find a non-theme word?
It still counts. The game tracks it separately from theme words, and every 3 you find unlocks a hint that highlights part of an unsolved theme word.
Can I play past Strands puzzles?
The NYT doesn't offer an in-app archive for Strands the way it does for Wordle. Our past spangrams table below covers the themes we have already run.
What happens when I use a hint in Strands?
Finding three non-theme words of four letters or more earns one hint, and spending it highlights the letters of a theme word you have not found yet, without ordering them for you. You still have to trace the path. Hints do not carry over to the next day, so there is no reason to save one.
Today's hints for every game
Same spoiler-safe format, for each daily puzzle we cover.
Past Strands answers
Recent Strands spangrams, organized by month. Use it to check a day you missed, settle an argument, or see how themes repeat over time. Today's spangram stays blurred until you tap it.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 30Today | #1,096 | IDRATHERNOT |
| Aug 29 | #1,095 | SOUNDSTASTY |
| Aug 28 | #1,081 | IHAVEADREAM |
| Aug 27 | #1,094 | WHATATWIST |
| Aug 26 | #1,093 | PARTOFTHEJOB |
| Aug 25 | #1,080 | TAKEAHIKE |
| Aug 24 | #1,097 | COOKIEJAR |
| Aug 23 | #1,092 | THEODYSSEY |
| Aug 22 | #1,079 | MOUNTAINRANGE |
| Aug 21 | #1,091 | LIFESAPARTY |
| Aug 20 | #1,078 | YOURETHE |
| Aug 19 | #1,090 | TOPDOGS |
| Aug 18 | #1,076 | CHARLATAN |
| Aug 17 | #1,075 | BODYJOINTS |
| Aug 16 | #1,074 | JOBTRAINING |
| Aug 15 | #1,073 | INCHURCH |
| Aug 14 | #1,077 | INVENTIONS |
| Aug 13 | #1,071 | FIREBRAND |
| Aug 12 | #1,070 | PHILANTHROPY |
| Aug 11 | #1,069 | SUMMERHARVEST |
| Aug 10 | #1,068 | PROOFPOSITIVE |
| Aug 09 | #1,067 | IMWORTHIT |
| Aug 08 | #1,066 | ROLLERCOASTER |
| Aug 07 | #1,065 | WHATCHAMACALLIT |
| Aug 06 | #1,064 | FLOWERINGTREE |
| Aug 05 | #1,063 | BRAINSTORMING |
| Aug 04 | #1,062 | PHARMACY |
| Aug 03 | #1,061 | ONEOFAKIND |
| Aug 02 | #1,060 | AIMHIGH |
| Aug 01 | #1,059 | GETREAL |
| Jul 31 | #1,058 | LEOTHELION |
| Jul 30 | #1,057 | ARTISANS |
| Jul 29 | #1,056 | FABRICATED |
| Jul 28 | #1,055 | ITSALLTHERE |
| Jul 27 | #1,052 | TRAINSTATION |
| Jul 26 | #1,051 | BIGBRAIN |
| Jul 25 | #1,050 | YOUWEARITWELL |
| Jul 24 | #1,048 | ANDTHENSOME |
| Jul 23 | #989 | NAVYRANKS |
| Jul 22 | #1,049 | INJEOPARDY |
| Jul 21 | #1,047 | STATIONERY |
| Jul 20 | #1,017 | ITSYBITSY |
| Jul 19 | #1,045 | SUPERSIZEIT |
| Jul 18 | #1,042 | BOWLOFGRANOLA |
| Jul 14 | #1,040 | HAVEASEAT |
| Jul 07 | #1,034 | IGETAROUND |
| Jul 06 | #1,033 | SUMMERTIME |
| Jul 05 | #1,031 | HUNTINGBREEDS |
| Jul 04 | #998 | FIREWORKS |
| Jul 03 | #1,030 | NOTBUDGING |
| Jul 02 | #1,029 | GETSAUCY |
| Jul 01 | #1,028 | TELLTALESIGN |
| Jun 30 | #1,027 | THATSSHOWBIZ |
| Jun 29 | #1,026 | MUSICALSTAFF |
| Jun 28 | #996 | PRIDEMONTH |
| Jun 27 | #1,025 | APARTMENTS |
| Jun 26 | #1,024 | BILLYGOATSGRUFF |
| Jun 25 | #1,023 | SPATREATMENT |
| Jun 24 | #1,022 | BEVERAGECOOLERS |
| Jun 23 | #1,020 | MINECRAFT |
| Jun 22 | #1,019 | GOOSEBUMPS |
| Jun 21 | #1,018 | HOTELAMENITIES |
| Jun 20 | #1,046 | GARDENPARTY |
| Jun 19 | #1,016 | COWPOKES |
| Jun 18 | #1,015 | CORALREEF |
| Jun 17 | #1,021 | FARMING |
| Jun 16 | #1,008 | WHATSFORLUNCH |
| Jun 15 | #1,013 | YOUVEGOTTHIS |
| Jun 14 | #1,010 | NOBILITY |
| Jun 13 | #1,009 | KARAOKE |
| Jun 12 | #1,011 | PARTSOFSPEECH |
| Jun 11 | #1,012 | RHYMETIME |
| Jun 10 | #1,007 | DOWNLOAD |
| Jun 09 | #1,014 | IMONABOAT |
| Jun 08 | #1,004 | GAMENIGHT |
| Jun 07 | #1,003 | COLDBLOODED |
| Jun 06 | #1,002 | TYINGTHEKNOT |
| Jun 05 | #1,006 | FIGHTINGWORDS |
| Jun 04 | #1,000 | POETRYINMOTION |
| Jun 03 | #999 | ROSEGARDEN |
| Jun 02 | #997 | EXTREMELYONLINE |
| Jun 01 | #1,005 | FORAGING |
| May 31 | #995 | TOURISM |
| May 30 | #994 | GOODFRIENDS |
| May 29 | #993 | FARMANIMALS |
| May 28 | #992 | FRAGRANCE |
| May 27 | #991 | HOTDIGGITYDOG |
| May 26 | #988 | SCAVENGERHUNT |
| May 25 | #990 | MEMORIALDAY |
| May 24 | #987 | TRYTOUNWIND |
| May 23 | #986 | SURVIVALIST |
| May 22 | #985 | ITSBIG |
| May 21 | #984 | FABRICS |
| May 20 | #983 | TAKEYOURTIME |
| May 19 | #982 | HIGHERGROUND |
| May 18 | #981 | CITRUS |
| May 17 | #980 | BOWLINGALLEY |
| May 16 | #979 | FRENCHBAKERY |
| May 15 | #978 | MUSTELIDS |
| May 14 | #976 | ROBINHOOD |
| May 13 | #975 | WHATITTAKES |
| May 12 | #974 | FANCYPANTS |
| May 11 | #973 | ODDSANDENDS |
| May 07 | #968 | GIVETHENOD |
| May 06 | #967 | RISEANDSHINE |
| May 05 | #966 | DIGITALCLOCK |
| May 04 | #965 | BRANCHOUT |
| May 03 | #964 | THATSODD |
| May 02 | #963 | LINEDANCE |
| May 01 | #962 | ALOHASPIRIT |
| Apr 30 | #961 | CONDENSATION |
| Apr 29 | #960 | TACKLE |
| Apr 28 | #959 | LIKEAHAWK |
| Apr 27 | #900 | EYEOPENERS |
| Apr 26 | #958 | LOCKHORNS |
| Apr 25 | #957 | STOREFRONT |
| Apr 24 | #956 | LETSGETLOUD |
| Apr 23 | #955 | DOMAIN |
| Apr 21 | #951 | DAREDEVILS |
| Apr 20 | #953 | CATCHTHELIGHT |
| Apr 19 | #952 | THEREIFIXEDIT |
| Apr 18 | #950 | ONTHECHEAP |
| Apr 17 | #949 | MOLLUSK |
| Apr 16 | #948 | JUSTFORFUN |
| Apr 15 | #947 | BIRTHSTONE |
| Apr 14 | #946 | OUTOFFOCUS |
| Apr 13 | #945 | STORAGESHED |
| Apr 12 | #944 | INTHEMIRROR |
| Apr 11 | #943 | TOPGEAR |
| Apr 10 | #942 | LIKEAFOX |
| Apr 09 | #941 | MEDIUM |
| Apr 08 | #940 | BEDCLOTHES |
| Apr 07 | #939 | SMOOTHSAILING |
| Apr 06 | #937 | OUTERLIMITS |
| Apr 05 | #936 | MARSUPIALS |
| Apr 04 | #935 | SPRINGBLOSSOM |
| Apr 03 | #934 | TROPICALFRUIT |
| Apr 02 | #933 | HORSERACING |
| Apr 01 | #922 | SHHHHHHHHHHHH |
| Mar 31 | #932 | THETOOTHFAIRY |
| Mar 30 | #931 | UMBRELLATERM |
| Mar 28 | #929 | CORRESPONDENCE |
| Mar 27 | #928 | TAILORMADE |
| Mar 26 | #927 | WINDINSTRUMENT |
| Mar 25 | #926 | CONCESSIONS |
| Mar 24 | #925 | OBSTACLECOURSE |
| Mar 23 | #924 | BREAKDOWN |
| Mar 22 | #921 | GENERICTERM |
| Mar 21 | #920 | ONTHENOSE |
| Mar 20 | #919 | TWISTANDTURN |
| Mar 19 | #917 | POTLUCK |
| Mar 18 | #918 | AFTERLIFE |
| Mar 17 | #870 | GOGREEN |
| Mar 16 | #916 | MARCHMADNESS |
| Mar 15 | #909 | ACADEMYAWARD |
| Mar 14 | #910 | HAPPYPIDAY |
| Mar 13 | #915 | BLUEGRASSMUSIC |
| Mar 12 | #914 | DYEDINTHEWOOL |
| Mar 11 | #911 | DEFENSES |
| Mar 10 | #913 | GOODDAY |
| Mar 09 | #912 | ENDEARMENTS |
| Mar 08 | #908 | DAYLIGHTSAVINGS |
| Mar 07 | #906 | DRINKWARE |
| Mar 06 | #905 | YOURBIGGESTFAN |
| Mar 05 | #904 | GEETHANKS |
| Mar 04 | #903 | BAKINGAISLE |
| Mar 03 | #902 | SPRUCEDUP |
| Mar 02 | #901 | COWORKINGSPACE |
| Mar 01 | #899 | THERIOTACT |
| Feb 28 | #898 | GLAMOROUS |
| Feb 27 | #897 | ENOUGHALREADY |
| Feb 26 | #896 | TALKINGBACK |
| Feb 25 | #895 | SPACECRAFT |
| Feb 24 | #887 | LOOKITUP |
| Feb 23 | #885 | GUITAR |
| Feb 22 | #893 | CLOSINGCEREMONY |
| Feb 21 | #890 | HOMEBREW |
| Feb 20 | #889 | SANDPAPER |
| Feb 19 | #888 | EUREKA |
| Feb 18 | #892 | WINTERSPORTS |
| Feb 17 | #886 | ZODIACSIGNS |
| Feb 16 | #891 | FIGURESKATING |
| Feb 15 | #884 | SEETHELIGHT |
| Feb 14 | #883 | HUGSANDKISSES |
| Feb 13 | #882 | VISUALAIDS |
| Feb 12 | #881 | HIGHSTAKES |
| Feb 10 | #879 | SIDINGMATERIAL |
| Feb 09 | #878 | AIRPORTS |
| Feb 08 | #877 | COCKTAILGARNISH |
| Feb 07 | #876 | WATCHINGPAINTDRY |
| Feb 06 | #875 | FEATURES |
| Feb 05 | #874 | GIVEMEFIVE |
| Feb 02 | #871 | BIGBIRDS |
| Feb 01 | #868 | GENEROSITY |
| Jan 31 | #867 | HAVEABALL |
| Jan 30 | #866 | FINDYOURWAY |
| Jan 29 | #865 | CLAIMTOFAME |
| Jan 28 | #864 | MINDFULNESS |
| Jan 27 | #863 | HEREBOY |
| Jan 26 | #862 | BYTHEBOTTLE |