Play Strands #944
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 #944 hints
Today's official theme is "A figment of your imagination". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
-
What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for words that name things that seem real or present but only exist in your mind, like a vision, a ghostly sight, or a trick of the eye.
Was this hint -
How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
Was this hint -
A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a flickering light in folklore that lures travelers astray, something you chase but can never catch, and it spans the whole board.
Was this hint -
How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, I, M, P, S.
Was this hint -
How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 12 letters and runs from bottom to top.
Was this hint
Strands #944 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 12 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #944 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 3, 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)
MIRAGE. It starts in row 3, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (7 letters)
CHIMERA. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
SPECTER. It starts in row 2, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
ILLUSION. It starts in row 5, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
PHANTASM. It starts in row 7, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (12 letters)
WILLOTHEWISP. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: WILLOTHEWISP
Theme words: CHIMERA, ILLUSION, MIRAGE, PHANTASM, SPECTER
Each answer names something that appears real but is not, such as a CHIMERA, ILLUSION, MIRAGE, PHANTASM, or SPECTER, which fits 'a figment of your imagination.' The spangram WILLOTHEWISP is the classic mythical glowing light that tricks people into following something that is not really there.
What does PHANTASM mean?
An illusory appearance, especially a ghostly figure or a vision seen in the mind. It is a more literary cousin of 'phantom', and here it fits the theme of things your imagination conjures up.
What does WILLOTHEWISP mean?
A faint, flickering light seen at night over marshes, from folklore, said to lure travelers off the path. Figuratively, it means anything elusive or misleading that people chase in vain.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 | #943 | On the sly ... |
| 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 |
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 3
Strands #944 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 3, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #944 was WILLOTHEWISP, for the theme "A figment of your imagination".
What were the Strands theme words on October 3, 2026?
CHIMERA, ILLUSION, MIRAGE, PHANTASM, SPECTER, plus the spangram WILLOTHEWISP.
What did the Strands #944 clue mean?
Each answer names something that appears real but is not, such as a CHIMERA, ILLUSION, MIRAGE, PHANTASM, or SPECTER, which fits 'a figment of your imagination.' The spangram WILLOTHEWISP is the classic mythical glowing light that tricks people into following something that is not really there.