Play Strands #880
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 #880 hints
Today's official theme is "Summer sign". 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 adjectives people use to describe someone's personality, especially traits tied to a zodiac sign that falls in July and August.
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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
The spangram names a zodiac sign by pairing its Latin name with the big cat that symbolizes it, and it stretches across the whole board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, B, C, D, G, L.
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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 #880 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #880 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 31, 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)
BOLD. It starts in row 1, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
BOSSY. It starts in row 4, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
LOYAL. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
CHARMING. It starts in row 6, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
DRAMATIC. It starts in row 2, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (8 letters)
GENEROUS. It starts in row 8, column 3, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
LEOTHELION. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: LEOTHELION
Theme words: BOLD, BOSSY, CHARMING, DRAMATIC, GENEROUS, LOYAL
The clue 'Summer sign' points to Leo, whose season runs from late July to late August, and LEOTHELION spells out the sign and its symbol. The theme words BOLD, BOSSY, CHARMING, DRAMATIC, GENEROUS and LOYAL are all personality traits commonly attributed to Leos.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 30 | #879 | Trade names |
| Jul 29 | #878 | A made man |
| 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 |
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 31
Strands #880 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 31, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #880 was LEOTHELION, for the theme "Summer sign".
What were the Strands theme words on July 31, 2026?
BOLD, BOSSY, CHARMING, DRAMATIC, GENEROUS, LOYAL, plus the spangram LEOTHELION.
What did the Strands #880 clue mean?
The clue 'Summer sign' points to Leo, whose season runs from late July to late August, and LEOTHELION spells out the sign and its symbol. The theme words BOLD, BOSSY, CHARMING, DRAMATIC, GENEROUS and LOYAL are all personality traits commonly attributed to Leos.