Play Strands #898
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 #898 hints
Today's official theme is "Fool me once ...". 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 verbs that describe tricking someone, whether by lying to them, cheating them out of something, or leading them down the wrong path.
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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 kind of person who pretends to have skills or powers they do not really have, such as a phony doctor or a snake oil seller.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, B, D, D, H, M.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 9 letters and runs from top to bottom.
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Strands #898 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 9 letters
- Longest theme word
- 9 letters
Strands #898 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 18, 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)
BILK. It starts in row 7, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
DUPE. It starts in row 2, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
DECEIVE. It starts in row 8, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
MISLEAD. It starts in row 5, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
HOODWINK. It starts in row 8, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (9 letters)
BAMBOOZLE. It starts in row 4, column 3, counting from the top left.
The spangram (9 letters)
CHARLATAN. It starts in row 1, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: CHARLATAN
Theme words: BAMBOOZLE, BILK, DECEIVE, DUPE, HOODWINK, MISLEAD
The clue 'Fool me once ...' is the start of a saying about being tricked, so every answer is a way of fooling someone: BAMBOOZLE, BILK, DECEIVE, DUPE, HOODWINK and MISLEAD. The spangram CHARLATAN names the kind of person who does the fooling.
What does BILK mean?
To cheat someone out of money or something owed, usually through trickery or by dodging payment. It is a short, somewhat old-fashioned word that fits the puzzle's theme of being swindled or fooled.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17 | #897 | On a bender |
| 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 |
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 18
Strands #898 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 18, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #898 was CHARLATAN, for the theme "Fool me once ...".
What were the Strands theme words on August 18, 2026?
BAMBOOZLE, BILK, DECEIVE, DUPE, HOODWINK, MISLEAD, plus the spangram CHARLATAN.
What did the Strands #898 clue mean?
The clue 'Fool me once ...' is the start of a saying about being tricked, so every answer is a way of fooling someone: BAMBOOZLE, BILK, DECEIVE, DUPE, HOODWINK and MISLEAD. The spangram CHARLATAN names the kind of person who does the fooling.