Play Strands #864
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 #864 hints
Today's official theme is "Rose-colored glasses". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
-
What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for words describing someone who sees the world in a dreamy, hopeful way that may not fit real life.
Was this hint -
How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 4 theme words plus the spangram.
Was this hint -
A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a common phrase for a wildly unrealistic hope, something sweet and baked that is floating high above the ground.
Was this hint -
How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: I, I, Q, R.
Was this hint -
How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 11 letters and runs from bottom to top.
Was this hint
Strands #864 in numbers
- Theme words
- 4
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 11 letters
- Longest theme word
- 11 letters
Strands #864 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 15, 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 (8 letters)
QUIXOTIC. It starts in row 1, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (8 letters)
ROMANTIC. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (10 letters)
IDEALISTIC. It starts in row 5, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (11 letters)
IMPRACTICAL. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters)
PIEINTHESKY. It starts in row 8, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: PIEINTHESKY
Theme words: IDEALISTIC, IMPRACTICAL, QUIXOTIC, ROMANTIC
Rose-colored glasses make everything look brighter than it really is, which matches outlooks that are IDEALISTIC, IMPRACTICAL, QUIXOTIC, and ROMANTIC. The spangram PIEINTHESKY names the kind of far-fetched dream someone wearing those glasses might chase.
What does QUIXOTIC mean?
Extremely idealistic in a way that ignores practical reality, often pursuing noble but unrealistic goals. It comes from Don Quixote, the novel's knight who battled windmills, and fits the rose-colored glasses theme of unrealistic optimism.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 14 | #863 | Make yourself comfortable |
| Jul 13 | #862 | Just what I needed |
| Jul 12 | #861 | In the Big Apple |
| Jul 11 | #860 | Fishy fare |
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 15
Strands #864 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 15, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #864 was PIEINTHESKY, for the theme "Rose-colored glasses".
What were the Strands theme words on July 15, 2026?
IDEALISTIC, IMPRACTICAL, QUIXOTIC, ROMANTIC, plus the spangram PIEINTHESKY.
What did the Strands #864 clue mean?
Rose-colored glasses make everything look brighter than it really is, which matches outlooks that are IDEALISTIC, IMPRACTICAL, QUIXOTIC, and ROMANTIC. The spangram PIEINTHESKY names the kind of far-fetched dream someone wearing those glasses might chase.