Play Strands #878
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 #878 hints
Today's official theme is "A made man". 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 things shaped like a person that are not alive, such as a toy, a store display, or something a performer might control.
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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 word that describes anything built or made up by people rather than found in nature, and it can also mean a story that isn't true.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: D, D, F, M, P, S.
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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 left to right.
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Strands #878 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 9 letters
Strands #878 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 29, 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)
DOLL. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
DUMMY. It starts in row 2, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
PUPPET. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters)
STATUE. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
FIGURINE. It starts in row 6, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (9 letters)
MANNEQUIN. It starts in row 4, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
FABRICATED. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: FABRICATED
Theme words: DOLL, DUMMY, FIGURINE, MANNEQUIN, PUPPET, STATUE
The clue 'A made man' is a pun: instead of a mobster, it points to human-shaped figures that people have manufactured. DOLL, DUMMY, FIGURINE, MANNEQUIN, PUPPET, and STATUE are all man-made imitations of people, and FABRICATED sums up that idea.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 28 | #877 | Leave nothing out |
| Jul 27 | #876 | Let the journey begin |
| Jul 26 | #875 | All-knowing |
| 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 ..." |
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 29
Strands #878 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 29, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #878 was FABRICATED, for the theme "A made man".
What were the Strands theme words on July 29, 2026?
DOLL, DUMMY, FIGURINE, MANNEQUIN, PUPPET, STATUE, plus the spangram FABRICATED.
What did the Strands #878 clue mean?
The clue 'A made man' is a pun: instead of a mobster, it points to human-shaped figures that people have manufactured. DOLL, DUMMY, FIGURINE, MANNEQUIN, PUPPET, and STATUE are all man-made imitations of people, and FABRICATED sums up that idea.