Play Strands #948
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 #948 hints
Today's official theme is "Color for the cure". 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 things that come in a bubbly, rosy shade, such as a famous doll, a chewy treat, a long-legged bird, a pale gemstone, and an intense kind of surprise.
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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 cheerful phrase for being delighted or amused, which also names the color of the theme and spans the whole board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, B, F, Q, 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 right to left.
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Strands #948 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 11 letters
- Longest theme word
- 9 letters
Strands #948 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 7, 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)
BARBIE. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
QUARTZ. It starts in row 3, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (8 letters)
FLAMINGO. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
SHOCKING. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (9 letters)
BUBBLEGUM. It starts in row 8, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters)
TICKLEDPINK. It starts in row 8, column 6, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: TICKLEDPINK
Theme words: BARBIE, BUBBLEGUM, FLAMINGO, QUARTZ, SHOCKING
The official clue 'Color for the cure' points to pink, the color tied to breast cancer awareness, and the spangram TICKLEDPINK is a phrase meaning very pleased that also names the shade. The theme words are all famous pink things: BARBIE, BUBBLEGUM, FLAMINGO, QUARTZ (rose quartz), and SHOCKING (shocking pink).
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 6 | #947 | Changing course |
| Oct 5 | #946 | Oh well, too bad, such a shame |
| Oct 4 | #945 | Grab your tokens |
| Oct 3 | #944 | A figment of your imagination |
| Oct 2 | #943 | On the sly ... |
| Oct 1 | #942 | Things fall apart |
| Sep 30 | #941 | An instrumental destination |
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 7
Strands #948 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 7, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #948 was TICKLEDPINK, for the theme "Color for the cure".
What were the Strands theme words on October 7, 2026?
BARBIE, BUBBLEGUM, FLAMINGO, QUARTZ, SHOCKING, plus the spangram TICKLEDPINK.
What did the Strands #948 clue mean?
The official clue 'Color for the cure' points to pink, the color tied to breast cancer awareness, and the spangram TICKLEDPINK is a phrase meaning very pleased that also names the shade. The theme words are all famous pink things: BARBIE, BUBBLEGUM, FLAMINGO, QUARTZ (rose quartz), and SHOCKING (shocking pink).