Play Strands #968
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 #968 hints
Today's official theme is "Who ya gonna call?". 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 small unwelcome critters that sneak into homes and yards, some with six legs, some with fur, and some that bite.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
This is the job title of the person you phone to get rid of all those unwanted guests, and it describes someone who wipes them out.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, C, M, R, 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 left to right.
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Strands #968 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 12 letters
- Longest theme word
- 11 letters
Strands #968 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 27, 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)
ANTS. It starts in row 1, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
MICE. It starts in row 5, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (4 letters)
RATS. It starts in row 6, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
TICKS. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
TERMITES. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (11 letters)
COCKROACHES. It starts in row 1, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (12 letters)
EXTERMINATOR. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: EXTERMINATOR
Theme words: ANTS, COCKROACHES, MICE, RATS, TERMITES, TICKS
The clue is a nod to the Ghostbusters song, but here the answer is the pest control pro you call when your house is overrun. The theme words ANTS, COCKROACHES, MICE, RATS, TERMITES and TICKS are all pests an EXTERMINATOR gets rid of.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | #967 | Please, be my guest! |
| Oct 25 | #966 | Something to build on |
| Oct 24 | #965 | Re-fresh-ing |
| Oct 23 | #964 | None of your beeswax! |
| Oct 22 | #963 | Any relation? |
| Oct 21 | #962 | On a higher level |
| Oct 20 | #961 | 🦆🦆 ... 🪿 |
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 27
Strands #968 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 27, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #968 was EXTERMINATOR, for the theme "Who ya gonna call?".
What were the Strands theme words on October 27, 2026?
ANTS, COCKROACHES, MICE, RATS, TERMITES, TICKS, plus the spangram EXTERMINATOR.
What did the Strands #968 clue mean?
The clue is a nod to the Ghostbusters song, but here the answer is the pest control pro you call when your house is overrun. The theme words ANTS, COCKROACHES, MICE, RATS, TERMITES and TICKS are all pests an EXTERMINATOR gets rid of.