Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, July 26, 2026 (Puzzle #875). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "All-knowing"
What It Really Means
You are hunting nouns for people regarded as exceptionally knowledgeable in a subject.
Think About...
- Deep knowledge earned through study and practice.
- Public voices asked to interpret a subject.
- Respected guides whose wisdom attracts followers.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Left to right across the board
Letter Count: 8 letters
Starting Zone: Row 4, letter 1
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This is an informal compliment for someone with an exceptionally sharp mind.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think of a playful two-word label for the smartest thinker in the room.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is B, last letter is N
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BIGBRAIN
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: This person’s judgment carries serious weight.
Closer: This is the reliable voice people cite when they want a dispute settled.
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 9 letters total
Answer
AUTHORITY
Word 2
Vague: This person has deep command of a subject.
Closer: Training and experience make this person the go-to source for advanced knowledge.
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 6 letters total
Answer
EXPERT
Word 3
Vague: This respected guide is known for wisdom or insight.
Closer: The term can describe a spiritual teacher or, informally, an influential guide in any field.
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 4 letters total
Answer
GURU
Word 4
Vague: This highly informed person knows a field inside out.
Closer: This Yiddish-derived label describes an enthusiast with unusually deep knowledge.
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 5 letters total
Answer
MAVEN
Word 5
Vague: This public commentator is paid to offer informed opinions.
Closer: Picture a familiar face on a television panel analyzing politics, sports, or current events.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 6 letters total
Answer
PUNDIT
Word 6
Vague: This person concentrates on one narrow field.
Closer: A doctor devoted to one branch of medicine is a classic example.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 10 letters total
Answer
SPECIALIST
Full Answers
Spangram: BIGBRAIN
Theme Words:
- AUTHORITY
- EXPERT
- GURU
- MAVEN
- PUNDIT
- SPECIALIST
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, with a clear concept but a few less everyday labels.
Trickiest Word: MAVEN is the likeliest stumbling block because it is less common in everyday speech than the other labels.
Our Take: The “All-knowing” theme gathers six distinct labels for deeply informed people, from AUTHORITY and EXPERT to GURU, MAVEN, PUNDIT, and SPECIALIST. BIGBRAIN ties them together with a playful phrase that feels lighter than the formal vocabulary around it, giving the set a satisfying change of tone.
