Play Strands #883
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 #883 hints
Today's official theme is "There's nothing like it". 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 that describe something that has no equal, because there is just one of it.
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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 short phrase, written as a single string of letters, that means there is no other like it, with a number hidden in the middle.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: E, O, S, S, S, U.
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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 bottom to top.
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Strands #883 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 9 letters
Strands #883 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 3, 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)
ONLY. It starts in row 5, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
SOLE. It starts in row 2, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
UNIQUE. It starts in row 2, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
SPECIAL. It starts in row 7, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
SINGULAR. It starts in row 4, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (9 letters)
EXCLUSIVE. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
ONEOFAKIND. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: ONEOFAKIND
Theme words: EXCLUSIVE, ONLY, SINGULAR, SOLE, SPECIAL, UNIQUE
The clue 'There's nothing like it' describes anything that has no match, and every answer is a word for that idea: EXCLUSIVE, ONLY, SINGULAR, SOLE, SPECIAL, and UNIQUE. The spangram ONEOFAKIND sums up the whole theme as a phrase for something that stands alone.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2 | #882 | Eyes on the prize |
| Aug 1 | #881 | "As if!" |
| Jul 31 | #880 | Summer sign |
| Jul 30 | #879 | Trade names |
| Jul 29 | #878 | A made man |
| Jul 28 | #877 | Leave nothing out |
| Jul 27 | #876 | Let the journey begin |
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 Aug 3
Strands #883 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 3, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #883 was ONEOFAKIND, for the theme "There's nothing like it".
What were the Strands theme words on August 3, 2026?
EXCLUSIVE, ONLY, SINGULAR, SOLE, SPECIAL, UNIQUE, plus the spangram ONEOFAKIND.
What did the Strands #883 clue mean?
The clue 'There's nothing like it' describes anything that has no match, and every answer is a word for that idea: EXCLUSIVE, ONLY, SINGULAR, SOLE, SPECIAL, and UNIQUE. The spangram ONEOFAKIND sums up the whole theme as a phrase for something that stands alone.