Play Strands #860
The same letter grid NYT shows. Drag across touching letters, or tap them one by one and tap the last letter again to check. Theme words turn blue and the spangram turns yellow. Hint outlines one word you haven't found. Nothing is saved, so your real game stays untouched.
Strands #860 hints
Today's official theme is "Fishy fare". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Think of the things you would pull out of the pantry and fridge to make a classic comfort-food dinner baked in one dish, built around a canned fish.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 8 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
This is the name of the deep baking dish, and the meal made in it, that brings all the other words together in one pan.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, M, N, P, P, S, S, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 9 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #860 in numbers
- Theme words
- 8
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 9 letters
- Longest theme word
- 7 letters
Strands #860 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 11, 2026.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (4 letters)
MILK. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
PEAS. It starts in row 1, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (4 letters)
SALT. It starts in row 4, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (4 letters)
SOUP. It starts in row 6, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (4 letters)
TUNA. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (6 letters)
CHEESE. It starts in row 8, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 7 (6 letters)
PEPPER. It starts in row 4, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 8 (7 letters)
NOODLES. It starts in row 5, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (9 letters)
CASSEROLE. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: CASSEROLE
Theme words: CHEESE, MILK, NOODLES, PEAS, PEPPER, SALT, SOUP, TUNA
The clue 'Fishy fare' points to a tuna noodle CASSEROLE, a classic dish built around canned fish. The theme words are its ingredients: TUNA, NOODLES, PEAS, CHEESE, MILK, SOUP, SALT, and PEPPER.
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Jul 11
Strands #860 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 11, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #860 was CASSEROLE, for the theme "Fishy fare".
What were the Strands theme words on July 11, 2026?
CHEESE, MILK, NOODLES, PEAS, PEPPER, SALT, SOUP, TUNA, plus the spangram CASSEROLE.
What did the Strands #860 clue mean?
The clue 'Fishy fare' points to a tuna noodle CASSEROLE, a classic dish built around canned fish. The theme words are its ingredients: TUNA, NOODLES, PEAS, CHEESE, MILK, SOUP, SALT, and PEPPER.