Play Strands #875
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 #875 hints
Today's official theme is "All-knowing". 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 naming people who know a great deal about a particular subject and are trusted for their advice or opinions.
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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
Picture a slangy, playful way to describe someone with a huge amount of smarts, like a head that's working overtime.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, E, G, M, P, S.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 8 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #875 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 8 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #875 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 26, 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)
GURU. It starts in row 8, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
MAVEN. It starts in row 5, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
EXPERT. It starts in row 3, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters)
PUNDIT. It starts in row 3, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (9 letters)
AUTHORITY. It starts in row 6, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (10 letters)
SPECIALIST. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
The spangram (8 letters)
BIGBRAIN. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: BIGBRAIN
Theme words: AUTHORITY, EXPERT, GURU, MAVEN, PUNDIT, SPECIALIST
The clue 'All-knowing' points to people with deep knowledge, so the theme words AUTHORITY, EXPERT, GURU, MAVEN, PUNDIT, and SPECIALIST are all labels for someone who knows a lot about a subject. The spangram BIGBRAIN ties them together as a casual way to describe that kind of super-smart person.
What does MAVEN mean?
A person with deep knowledge or skill in a particular field, often someone whose opinions are trusted by others. The word comes from Yiddish. It fits the puzzle as another term for a go-to expert.
What does PUNDIT mean?
Someone who is regularly asked to give opinions on a subject, especially in the media on politics or sports. The word comes from a Hindi term for a learned scholar. It fits the puzzle as a term for a self-assured authority.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | #874 | Frocks and smocks |
| Jul 24 | #873 | There's more where that came from |
| 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 |
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 26
Strands #875 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 26, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #875 was BIGBRAIN, for the theme "All-knowing".
What were the Strands theme words on July 26, 2026?
AUTHORITY, EXPERT, GURU, MAVEN, PUNDIT, SPECIALIST, plus the spangram BIGBRAIN.
What did the Strands #875 clue mean?
The clue 'All-knowing' points to people with deep knowledge, so the theme words AUTHORITY, EXPERT, GURU, MAVEN, PUNDIT, and SPECIALIST are all labels for someone who knows a lot about a subject. The spangram BIGBRAIN ties them together as a casual way to describe that kind of super-smart person.