Play Strands #873
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 #873 hints
Today's official theme is "There's more where that came from". 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 describing an amount of something beyond what you need, the stuff that's still around after the main part is taken care of.
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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 a casual phrase you might tack on at the end of a list to say there's even more you could have mentioned, and it runs across the board from one side to the other.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: E, E, L, S, S, U.
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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 #873 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 11 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #873 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 24, 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)
EXTRA. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
SPARE. It starts in row 3, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
EXCESS. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters)
UNUSED. It starts in row 6, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters)
SURPLUS. It starts in row 2, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (8 letters)
LEFTOVER. It starts in row 1, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters)
ANDTHENSOME. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: ANDTHENSOME
Theme words: EXCESS, EXTRA, LEFTOVER, SPARE, SURPLUS, UNUSED
The clue 'There's more where that came from' hints at having a supply beyond what is required, which fits EXCESS, EXTRA, LEFTOVER, SPARE, SURPLUS, and UNUSED. The spangram ANDTHENSOME is a phrase that literally means there's even more to add.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 23 | #872 | Hail to the chief petty officer |
| Jul 22 | #871 | "What is ..." |
| 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 |
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 24
Strands #873 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 24, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #873 was ANDTHENSOME, for the theme "There's more where that came from".
What were the Strands theme words on July 24, 2026?
EXCESS, EXTRA, LEFTOVER, SPARE, SURPLUS, UNUSED, plus the spangram ANDTHENSOME.
What did the Strands #873 clue mean?
The clue 'There's more where that came from' hints at having a supply beyond what is required, which fits EXCESS, EXTRA, LEFTOVER, SPARE, SURPLUS, and UNUSED. The spangram ANDTHENSOME is a phrase that literally means there's even more to add.