Play Strands #903
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 #903 hints
Today's official theme is "An epic journey". 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 people, creatures, places, and things from an ancient Greek tale about a hero trying to get home after a long war.
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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
It is the title of the famous old poem attributed to Homer that tells this story, and it spans the board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, K, S, S, S, U.
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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 right to left.
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Strands #903 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #903 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 23, 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)
KING. It starts in row 3, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
SHIP. It starts in row 1, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
SIRENS. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
CYCLOPS. It starts in row 1, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters)
SUITORS. It starts in row 5, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (10 letters)
UNDERWORLD. It starts in row 8, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
THEODYSSEY. It starts in row 8, column 6, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: THEODYSSEY
Theme words: CYCLOPS, KING, SHIP, SIRENS, SUITORS, UNDERWORLD
The epic journey is Homer's THEODYSSEY, the story of Odysseus sailing home from Troy. The theme words are parts of that tale: he is a KING who sails a SHIP, escapes the CYCLOPS, resists the SIRENS, visits the UNDERWORLD, and finally deals with the SUITORS waiting at home.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 22 | #902 | Peak Americana |
| Aug 21 | #901 | Celebrate! |
| Aug 20 | #900 | Split superlatives |
| Aug 19 | #899 | For better or wurst |
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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 23
Strands #903 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 23, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #903 was THEODYSSEY, for the theme "An epic journey".
What were the Strands theme words on August 23, 2026?
CYCLOPS, KING, SHIP, SIRENS, SUITORS, UNDERWORLD, plus the spangram THEODYSSEY.
What did the Strands #903 clue mean?
The epic journey is Homer's THEODYSSEY, the story of Odysseus sailing home from Troy. The theme words are parts of that tale: he is a KING who sails a SHIP, escapes the CYCLOPS, resists the SIRENS, visits the UNDERWORLD, and finally deals with the SUITORS waiting at home.