Play Strands #943
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 #943 hints
Today's official theme is "On the sly ...". 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 adjectives describing someone who acts in a secretive, hidden, or not-quite-honest way, the kind of person you would not want to catch doing something behind your back.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a phrase for moving about quietly while hoping nobody notices what you are up to, and it spans the whole board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, D, F, S, S.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 14 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #943 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 14 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #943 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 2, 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 (6 letters)
COVERT. It starts in row 8, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
SHIFTY. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
DEVIOUS. It starts in row 5, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
FURTIVE. It starts in row 1, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
STEALTHY. It starts in row 6, column 1, counting from the top left.
The spangram (14 letters)
SNEAKINGAROUND. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: SNEAKINGAROUND
Theme words: COVERT, DEVIOUS, FURTIVE, SHIFTY, STEALTHY
The clue 'On the sly' means doing something secretly, and each theme word (COVERT, DEVIOUS, FURTIVE, SHIFTY, STEALTHY) describes that kind of secretive or sneaky behavior. The spangram SNEAKINGAROUND ties them together as the action of acting on the sly.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | #942 | Things fall apart |
| Sep 30 | #941 | An instrumental destination |
| Sep 29 | #940 | Have a heart |
| Sep 28 | #939 | A form of art |
| Sep 27 | #938 | It's skin deep |
| Sep 26 | #937 | A breath of fresh air |
| Sep 25 | #936 | 1✖️1, etc ... |
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 Oct 2
Strands #943 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 2, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #943 was SNEAKINGAROUND, for the theme "On the sly ...".
What were the Strands theme words on October 2, 2026?
COVERT, DEVIOUS, FURTIVE, SHIFTY, STEALTHY, plus the spangram SNEAKINGAROUND.
What did the Strands #943 clue mean?
The clue 'On the sly' means doing something secretly, and each theme word (COVERT, DEVIOUS, FURTIVE, SHIFTY, STEALTHY) describes that kind of secretive or sneaky behavior. The spangram SNEAKINGAROUND ties them together as the action of acting on the sly.