Play Strands #897
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 #897 hints
Today's official theme is "On a bender". 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 parts of your body where bones meet and let you bend, like the spots you flex when you move your arms and legs.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 7 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a two-word phrase for the general category all the theme words belong to, the places in your frame that let you bend and move.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, E, K, K, N, S, W.
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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 #897 in numbers
- Theme words
- 7
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #897 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 17, 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)
KNEE. It starts in row 6, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
NECK. It starts in row 2, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
ANKLE. It starts in row 3, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
ELBOW. It starts in row 3, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (5 letters)
WRIST. It starts in row 5, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (7 letters)
KNUCKLE. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 7 (8 letters)
SHOULDER. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
BODYJOINTS. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: BODYJOINTS
Theme words: ANKLE, ELBOW, KNEE, KNUCKLE, NECK, SHOULDER, WRIST
The clue 'On a bender' is a pun: a bender is a wild night out, but it also describes things that bend. Your ANKLE, ELBOW, KNEE, KNUCKLE, NECK, SHOULDER, and WRIST are all BODYJOINTS that bend.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 16 | #896 | Learn by doing |
| Aug 15 | #895 | Sacred space |
| Aug 14 | #894 | Discovered by accident |
| Aug 13 | #893 | Coming in hot |
| Aug 12 | #892 | Making a difference |
| Aug 11 | #891 | Fresh from the market |
| Aug 10 | #890 | Back it up |
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 17
Strands #897 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 17, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #897 was BODYJOINTS, for the theme "On a bender".
What were the Strands theme words on August 17, 2026?
ANKLE, ELBOW, KNEE, KNUCKLE, NECK, SHOULDER, WRIST, plus the spangram BODYJOINTS.
What did the Strands #897 clue mean?
The clue 'On a bender' is a pun: a bender is a wild night out, but it also describes things that bend. Your ANKLE, ELBOW, KNEE, KNUCKLE, NECK, SHOULDER, and WRIST are all BODYJOINTS that bend.