Play Strands #886
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 #886 hints
Today's official theme is "Blossoming forth". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
-
What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for the names of woody plants that put on a showy display of blooms in spring, the kind you might see lining a street or filling a park.
Was this hint -
How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
Was this hint -
A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
The spangram is the general category that all of the other answers belong to, describing a plant with a trunk that bursts into bloom, and it spans the whole board.
Was this hint -
How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, D, H, M, R.
Was this hint -
How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 13 letters and runs from bottom to top.
Was this hint
Strands #886 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 13 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #886 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 6, 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 (6 letters)
CHERRY. It starts in row 6, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
REDBUD. It starts in row 1, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
DOGWOOD. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
HAWTHORN. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
MAGNOLIA. It starts in row 7, column 1, counting from the top left.
The spangram (13 letters)
FLOWERINGTREE. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: FLOWERINGTREE
Theme words: CHERRY, DOGWOOD, HAWTHORN, MAGNOLIA, REDBUD
The clue 'Blossoming forth' points to trees that burst into bloom each spring, which is exactly what the spangram FLOWERINGTREE names. CHERRY, DOGWOOD, HAWTHORN, MAGNOLIA, and REDBUD are all examples of flowering trees famous for their spring blossoms.
What does HAWTHORN mean?
A thorny shrub or small tree in the rose family, with white or pink spring blossoms and small red berries called haws. It is common in hedgerows across Europe and North America, and it fits the flowering-tree theme.
What does REDBUD mean?
A small North American tree that covers its bare branches in bright pink-purple blossoms in early spring, before the heart-shaped leaves appear. It is a classic example of a tree that blossoms forth.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 5 | #885 | All things considered |
| 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 |
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 6
Strands #886 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 6, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #886 was FLOWERINGTREE, for the theme "Blossoming forth".
What were the Strands theme words on August 6, 2026?
CHERRY, DOGWOOD, HAWTHORN, MAGNOLIA, REDBUD, plus the spangram FLOWERINGTREE.
What did the Strands #886 clue mean?
The clue 'Blossoming forth' points to trees that burst into bloom each spring, which is exactly what the spangram FLOWERINGTREE names. CHERRY, DOGWOOD, HAWTHORN, MAGNOLIA, and REDBUD are all examples of flowering trees famous for their spring blossoms.