Play Strands #868
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 #868 hints
Today's official theme is "Big talk". 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
Look for words that describe something enormously large, especially mighty creatures or figures from myth, legend, and history.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a fast-food catchphrase for making your order bigger, and it spans the whole board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, C, G, L, M.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 11 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #868 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 11 letters
- Longest theme word
- 9 letters
Strands #868 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 19, 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 (5 letters)
GIANT. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (7 letters)
MAMMOTH. It starts in row 8, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (8 letters)
BEHEMOTH. It starts in row 3, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
COLOSSUS. It starts in row 5, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (9 letters)
LEVIATHAN. It starts in row 2, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters)
SUPERSIZEIT. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: SUPERSIZEIT
Theme words: BEHEMOTH, COLOSSUS, GIANT, LEVIATHAN, MAMMOTH
The clue 'Big talk' is a play on words: these are all words for things that are huge, and the spangram SUPERSIZEIT is a phrase about going bigger. BEHEMOTH, COLOSSUS, GIANT, LEVIATHAN, and MAMMOTH are each a term you might use to talk about something enormous.
What does BEHEMOTH mean?
A huge, powerful creature or thing. The word comes from a giant beast described in the biblical Book of Job. It now describes anything enormous, like a company or machine, which fits the theme of big things.
What does LEVIATHAN mean?
A massive sea monster from the Bible and ancient Near Eastern myth. It now means anything of immense size or power, such as a huge ship or organization, which fits the theme of big things.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 18 | #867 | A healthy breakfast |
| Jul 17 | #866 | Categorically speaking |
| Jul 16 | #865 | "Rerouting ..." |
| Jul 15 | #864 | Rose-colored glasses |
| Jul 14 | #863 | Make yourself comfortable |
| Jul 13 | #862 | Just what I needed |
| Jul 12 | #861 | In the Big Apple |
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 19
Strands #868 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 19, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #868 was SUPERSIZEIT, for the theme "Big talk".
What were the Strands theme words on July 19, 2026?
BEHEMOTH, COLOSSUS, GIANT, LEVIATHAN, MAMMOTH, plus the spangram SUPERSIZEIT.
What did the Strands #868 clue mean?
The clue 'Big talk' is a play on words: these are all words for things that are huge, and the spangram SUPERSIZEIT is a phrase about going bigger. BEHEMOTH, COLOSSUS, GIANT, LEVIATHAN, and MAMMOTH are each a term you might use to talk about something enormous.