Play Strands #871
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 #871 hints
Today's official theme is ""What is ..."". 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 tied to a famous TV quiz show where contestants compete to show off their knowledge, including the equipment, the setup, and the way players respond.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of the phrase that describes being at risk on a classic game show, where a contestant's response must be phrased in a special way, and it runs across the whole puzzle in three words joined together.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, B, B, C, Q, W.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 10 letters and runs from top to bottom.
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Strands #871 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #871 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 22, 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)
BOARD. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
WAGER. It starts in row 7, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
ANSWER. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters)
BUZZER. It starts in row 6, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
CATEGORY. It starts in row 7, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (8 letters)
QUESTION. It starts in row 1, column 4, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
INJEOPARDY. It starts in row 1, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: INJEOPARDY
Theme words: ANSWER, BOARD, BUZZER, CATEGORY, QUESTION, WAGER
The clue 'What is ...' mimics how contestants on Jeopardy! must phrase every response, so the theme is the parts of that game. The spangram IN JEOPARDY names the show's situation, while ANSWER, BOARD, BUZZER, CATEGORY, QUESTION, and WAGER are all pieces of how the game is played.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | #870 | Write there |
| Jul 20 | #869 | Small talk |
| 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 |
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 22
Strands #871 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 22, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #871 was INJEOPARDY, for the theme ""What is ..."".
What were the Strands theme words on July 22, 2026?
ANSWER, BOARD, BUZZER, CATEGORY, QUESTION, WAGER, plus the spangram INJEOPARDY.
What did the Strands #871 clue mean?
The clue 'What is ...' mimics how contestants on Jeopardy! must phrase every response, so the theme is the parts of that game. The spangram IN JEOPARDY names the show's situation, while ANSWER, BOARD, BUZZER, CATEGORY, QUESTION, and WAGER are all pieces of how the game is played.