Play Strands #885
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 #885 hints
Today's official theme is "All things considered". 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 name the little sparks or products of your mind, like what you come up with when you mull something over.
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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 the group activity where people toss out whatever comes to mind to solve a problem, often with sticky notes and a whiteboard.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, I, N, O, P, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 13 letters and runs from right to left.
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Strands #885 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 13 letters
- Longest theme word
- 7 letters
Strands #885 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 5, 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)
IDEA. It starts in row 7, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
PLAN. It starts in row 5, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
NOTION. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
CONCEPT. It starts in row 1, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters)
OPINION. It starts in row 5, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (7 letters)
THOUGHT. It starts in row 6, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (13 letters)
BRAINSTORMING. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: BRAINSTORMING
Theme words: CONCEPT, IDEA, NOTION, OPINION, PLAN, THOUGHT
The clue 'All things considered' points to thinking carefully, and the theme words CONCEPT, IDEA, NOTION, OPINION, PLAN, and THOUGHT are all things that come out of mental consideration. BRAINSTORMING is the spangram because it is the process of generating all of those products.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 4 | #884 | Staying healthy |
| Aug 3 | #883 | There's nothing like it |
| 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 |
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 5
Strands #885 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 5, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #885 was BRAINSTORMING, for the theme "All things considered".
What were the Strands theme words on August 5, 2026?
CONCEPT, IDEA, NOTION, OPINION, PLAN, THOUGHT, plus the spangram BRAINSTORMING.
What did the Strands #885 clue mean?
The clue 'All things considered' points to thinking carefully, and the theme words CONCEPT, IDEA, NOTION, OPINION, PLAN, and THOUGHT are all things that come out of mental consideration. BRAINSTORMING is the spangram because it is the process of generating all of those products.