Play Strands #909
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 #909 hints
Today's official theme is "Now we're cooking!". 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 imitate the noises food makes when it is heating up on the stove or in a pan.
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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 a phrase describing noises in the kitchen that make your mouth water, and it runs all the way across the board in two parts with an S at the start of each.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, C, G, H, S, S.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 11 letters and runs from top to bottom.
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Strands #909 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 11 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #909 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 29, 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)
HISS. It starts in row 1, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
BUBBLE. It starts in row 5, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
GURGLE. It starts in row 2, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters)
SIZZLE. It starts in row 5, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters)
CRACKLE. It starts in row 8, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (8 letters)
SPLATTER. It starts in row 6, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters)
SOUNDSTASTY. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: SOUNDSTASTY
Theme words: BUBBLE, CRACKLE, GURGLE, HISS, SIZZLE, SPLATTER
Now we're cooking! points to the lively noises of food on the heat, like BUBBLE, CRACKLE, GURGLE, HISS, SIZZLE and SPLATTER. The spangram SOUNDSTASTY ties them together by suggesting these kitchen sounds hint that something delicious is on the way.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 28 | #908 | On this day in 1963 |
| Aug 27 | #907 | Spiraling definitions |
| Aug 26 | #906 | All in a day's work |
| Aug 25 | #905 | Enjoying nature |
| Aug 24 | #904 | You can't eat just one |
| Aug 23 | #903 | An epic journey |
| Aug 22 | #902 | Peak Americana |
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 29
Strands #909 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 29, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #909 was SOUNDSTASTY, for the theme "Now we're cooking!".
What were the Strands theme words on August 29, 2026?
BUBBLE, CRACKLE, GURGLE, HISS, SIZZLE, SPLATTER, plus the spangram SOUNDSTASTY.
What did the Strands #909 clue mean?
Now we're cooking! points to the lively noises of food on the heat, like BUBBLE, CRACKLE, GURGLE, HISS, SIZZLE and SPLATTER. The spangram SOUNDSTASTY ties them together by suggesting these kitchen sounds hint that something delicious is on the way.