Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (Puzzle #892). 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: "Making a difference"
What It Really Means
You are hunting action words for moving money, goods, help, or opportunity from one party to another for someone else's benefit.
Think About...
- Acts of generosity toward a cause.
- Ways to add resources to a shared effort.
- Formal transfers of money, honors, or support.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to bottom down the board
Letter Count: 12 letters
Starting Zone: Row 1, letter 3
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think about generosity expressed through action.
Hint 2 (Warmer): The long connector names organized concern for others, especially through charitable support.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is P, last letter is Y
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PHILANTHROPY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: To ceremonially place something valuable in another person's hands.
Closer: Think of a monarch presenting an honor or title.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 6 letters total
Answer
BESTOW
Word 2
Vague: To add your share to a larger effort.
Closer: This is the verb behind chipping in money, work, or ideas.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 10 letters total
Answer
CONTRIBUTE
Word 3
Vague: To hand over money or goods for charitable use.
Closer: This is what someone does with clothes sent to a charity shop.
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 6 letters total
Answer
DONATE
Word 4
Vague: To equip a person or institution with a lasting resource.
Closer: Think of funding a university chair or permanent fund.
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 5 letters total
Answer
ENDOW
Word 5
Vague: To let something pass from your possession to someone else.
Closer: This basic verb is the opposite of receiving.
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 4 letters total
Answer
GIVE
Word 6
Vague: To formally allow or provide something requested.
Closer: A court can do this with permission, and a foundation can do it with funds.
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 5 letters total
Answer
GRANT
Full Answers
Spangram: PHILANTHROPY
Theme Words:
- BESTOW
- CONTRIBUTE
- DONATE
- ENDOW
- GIVE
- GRANT
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, because the six closely related verbs blur together until PHILANTHROPY clarifies the theme.
Trickiest Word: ENDOW is the trickiest word because it is less conversational than the other answers and also appears figuratively when someone possesses an inherent quality.
Our Take: PHILANTHROPY neatly gathers BESTOW, CONTRIBUTE, DONATE, ENDOW, GIVE, and GRANT under one generous umbrella. The list moves from the everyday GIVE to the more formal BESTOW and ENDOW, shifting register while keeping the central action consistent. The top-to-bottom spangram supplies a strong structural payoff.
