Play Strands #964
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 #964 hints
Today's official theme is "None of your beeswax!". 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 words that describe someone who can't help poking around in other people's private business, plus one sneaky thing they might do with their ears.
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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 the label for a person who is always in everyone else's affairs, and picture a body that is constantly occupied with them.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: E, I, N, P, S.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 8 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #964 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 8 letters
- Longest theme word
- 13 letters
Strands #964 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 23, 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 (4 letters)
NOSY. It starts in row 2, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
PRYING. It starts in row 6, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
SNOOPY. It starts in row 7, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (11 letters)
INQUISITIVE. It starts in row 6, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (13 letters)
EAVESDROPPING. It starts in row 1, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (8 letters)
BUSYBODY. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: BUSYBODY
Theme words: EAVESDROPPING, INQUISITIVE, NOSY, PRYING, SNOOPY
The clue 'None of your beeswax!' is what you say to someone who is sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. The answers describe that kind of person: a BUSYBODY who is NOSY, PRYING, SNOOPY and INQUISITIVE, and who might practice EAVESDROPPING.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 22 | #963 | Any relation? |
| Oct 21 | #962 | On a higher level |
| Oct 20 | #961 | 🦆🦆 ... 🪿 |
| Oct 19 | #960 | It's all Greek to me |
| Oct 18 | #959 | Fast fashion |
| Oct 17 | #958 | Quite the crush |
| Oct 16 | #957 | Just a little bit |
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 23
Strands #964 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 23, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #964 was BUSYBODY, for the theme "None of your beeswax!".
What were the Strands theme words on October 23, 2026?
EAVESDROPPING, INQUISITIVE, NOSY, PRYING, SNOOPY, plus the spangram BUSYBODY.
What did the Strands #964 clue mean?
The clue 'None of your beeswax!' is what you say to someone who is sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. The answers describe that kind of person: a BUSYBODY who is NOSY, PRYING, SNOOPY and INQUISITIVE, and who might practice EAVESDROPPING.