Play Strands #902
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 #902 hints
Today's official theme is "Peak Americana". 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 famous highland chains in the United States, which usually come before the word 'Mountains' in their full names, and some are also ordinary words for a color, a type of waterfall, or a kind of tool.
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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
The long word that spans the board describes what all of these famous chains are, a group of tall, connected landforms in a line.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, G, R, S, S, W.
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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 left to right.
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Strands #902 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 13 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #902 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 22, 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 (5 letters)
GREEN. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
ROCKY. It starts in row 3, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
SMOKY. It starts in row 4, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
WHITE. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters)
CASCADE. It starts in row 8, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (8 letters)
SAWTOOTH. It starts in row 2, column 4, counting from the top left.
The spangram (13 letters)
MOUNTAINRANGE. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: MOUNTAINRANGE
Theme words: CASCADE, GREEN, ROCKY, SAWTOOTH, SMOKY, WHITE
The clue plays on 'peak' as in mountain peaks, and Americana points to well-known American places. CASCADE, GREEN, ROCKY, SAWTOOTH, SMOKY, and WHITE are all U.S. mountain ranges, which is exactly what the spangram MOUNTAINRANGE says.
What does SAWTOOTH mean?
Describes a jagged edge or profile with sharp points like the teeth of a saw. Here it names the Sawtooth Range in Idaho, whose craggy peaks give it that look, and it is one of the American mountain ranges in the puzzle.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 21 | #901 | Celebrate! |
| Aug 20 | #900 | Split superlatives |
| Aug 19 | #899 | For better or wurst |
| Aug 18 | #898 | Fool me once ... |
| Aug 17 | #897 | On a bender |
| Aug 16 | #896 | Learn by doing |
| Aug 15 | #895 | Sacred space |
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 22
Strands #902 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 22, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #902 was MOUNTAINRANGE, for the theme "Peak Americana".
What were the Strands theme words on August 22, 2026?
CASCADE, GREEN, ROCKY, SAWTOOTH, SMOKY, WHITE, plus the spangram MOUNTAINRANGE.
What did the Strands #902 clue mean?
The clue plays on 'peak' as in mountain peaks, and Americana points to well-known American places. CASCADE, GREEN, ROCKY, SAWTOOTH, SMOKY, and WHITE are all U.S. mountain ranges, which is exactly what the spangram MOUNTAINRANGE says.