Play Strands #960
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 #960 hints
Today's official theme is "It's all Greek to me". 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 beings and creatures from ancient Greek stories, like spirits of nature, groups of goddesses, and half-human, half-animal figures.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 7 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of an adjective describing stories of gods and legendary creatures from long ago, and it runs across the whole board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: D, D, F, F, M, N, S.
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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 left to right.
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Strands #960 in numbers
- Theme words
- 7
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 12 letters
- Longest theme word
- 6 letters
Strands #960 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 19, 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)
DEITY. It starts in row 5, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
DRYAD. It starts in row 3, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
FATES. It starts in row 8, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
MUSES. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (5 letters)
NYMPH. It starts in row 2, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (5 letters)
SATYR. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 7 (6 letters)
FURIES. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
The spangram (12 letters)
MYTHOLOGICAL. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: MYTHOLOGICAL
Theme words: DEITY, DRYAD, FATES, FURIES, MUSES, NYMPH, SATYR
The clue plays on the phrase for something confusing, but here it points to ancient Greece and its legends. The answers DEITY, DRYAD, FATES, FURIES, MUSES, NYMPH, and SATYR are all figures from Greek myth, and MYTHOLOGICAL ties them together.
What does DRYAD mean?
A female nature spirit in Greek myth who lives in a tree, often an oak, and is tied to its life. Many people know nymphs but not this specific kind, so it may need a lookup.
What does SATYR mean?
A woodland creature from Greek myth, part man and part goat, with goat legs and horns. Satyrs were known for love of wine, music and chasing nymphs. They are followers of the god Dionysus.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 18 | #959 | Fast fashion |
| Oct 17 | #958 | Quite the crush |
| Oct 16 | #957 | Just a little bit |
| Oct 15 | #956 | Sailor's guide |
| Oct 14 | #955 | Folk & fairy tale twosomes |
| Oct 13 | #954 | Well, this is awkward |
| Oct 12 | #953 | In a manner of speaking |
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 19
Strands #960 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 19, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #960 was MYTHOLOGICAL, for the theme "It's all Greek to me".
What were the Strands theme words on October 19, 2026?
DEITY, DRYAD, FATES, FURIES, MUSES, NYMPH, SATYR, plus the spangram MYTHOLOGICAL.
What did the Strands #960 clue mean?
The clue plays on the phrase for something confusing, but here it points to ancient Greece and its legends. The answers DEITY, DRYAD, FATES, FURIES, MUSES, NYMPH, and SATYR are all figures from Greek myth, and MYTHOLOGICAL ties them together.