Play Strands #869
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 #869 hints
Today's official theme is "Small 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 all describe things that are very, very small in size.
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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 playful, sing-song way to describe something small, like the spider in a well-known nursery rhyme.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: L, M, M, M, 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 #869 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 9 letters
- Longest theme word
- 11 letters
Strands #869 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 20, 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)
TINY. It starts in row 1, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
LITTLE. It starts in row 4, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (9 letters)
MINIATURE. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (9 letters)
MINUSCULE. It starts in row 6, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (11 letters)
MICROSCOPIC. It starts in row 4, column 4, counting from the top left.
The spangram (9 letters)
ITSYBITSY. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: ITSYBITSY
Theme words: LITTLE, MICROSCOPIC, MINIATURE, MINUSCULE, TINY
The clue 'Small talk' is a pun, since the answers are all words you might use when talking about something small. LITTLE, MICROSCOPIC, MINIATURE, MINUSCULE, and TINY are all ways to say small, and the spangram ITSYBITSY is a cute, chatty one.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 19 | #868 | Big talk |
| 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 |
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 20
Strands #869 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 20, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #869 was ITSYBITSY, for the theme "Small talk".
What were the Strands theme words on July 20, 2026?
LITTLE, MICROSCOPIC, MINIATURE, MINUSCULE, TINY, plus the spangram ITSYBITSY.
What did the Strands #869 clue mean?
The clue 'Small talk' is a pun, since the answers are all words you might use when talking about something small. LITTLE, MICROSCOPIC, MINIATURE, MINUSCULE, and TINY are all ways to say small, and the spangram ITSYBITSY is a cute, chatty one.