Play Strands #952
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 #952 hints
Today's official theme is "They don't make 'em like they used to". 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Look for everyday items that were common in your grandparents' time but have mostly been replaced by newer gadgets and appliances.
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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
This word describes all the theme answers as a group, meaning belonging to an earlier era and no longer in style.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: I, I, P, T, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 12 letters and runs from top to bottom.
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Strands #952 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 12 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #952 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 11, 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 (5 letters)
PAGER. It starts in row 6, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
ICEBOX. It starts in row 2, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
INKWELL. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
TELEGRAM. It starts in row 1, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (10 letters)
TYPEWRITER. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
The spangram (12 letters)
OLDFASHIONED. It starts in row 1, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: OLDFASHIONED
Theme words: ICEBOX, INKWELL, PAGER, TELEGRAM, TYPEWRITER
The clue says they don't make things like they used to, and each answer is a once-common item that has been replaced by modern technology: ICEBOX, INKWELL, PAGER, TELEGRAM and TYPEWRITER. The spangram OLDFASHIONED ties them together as relics of the past.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 10 | #951 | A slow drizzle |
| Oct 9 | #950 | That can't be right |
| Oct 8 | #949 | A star is born |
| Oct 7 | #948 | Color for the cure |
| Oct 6 | #947 | Changing course |
| Oct 5 | #946 | Oh well, too bad, such a shame |
| Oct 4 | #945 | Grab your tokens |
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 11
Strands #952 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 11, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #952 was OLDFASHIONED, for the theme "They don't make 'em like they used to".
What were the Strands theme words on October 11, 2026?
ICEBOX, INKWELL, PAGER, TELEGRAM, TYPEWRITER, plus the spangram OLDFASHIONED.
What did the Strands #952 clue mean?
The clue says they don't make things like they used to, and each answer is a once-common item that has been replaced by modern technology: ICEBOX, INKWELL, PAGER, TELEGRAM and TYPEWRITER. The spangram OLDFASHIONED ties them together as relics of the past.