Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, October 25, 2026 (Puzzle #966). 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: "Something to build on"
What It Really Means
Look for words describing the underlying support or basic organization that lets something take shape, whether it is a physical object or an idea.
Think About...
- What gives workers a safe place to stand as a building goes up?
- What gives a body its shape beneath the skin?
- What basic organization does an idea need before you add details?
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Left to right across the board
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Row 8, letter 5
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think of the essential bases that everything else depends on.
Hint 2 (Warmer): For a building, these sit below ground and carry the weight above.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is F, last letter is S
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FOUNDATIONS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A supporting arrangement you can fill in or build upon.
Closer: A basic system of rules or ideas that guides a plan or approach.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 9 letters total
Answer
FRAMEWORK
Word 2
Vague: Temporary help for a project taking shape.
Closer: The temporary poles and platforms that let builders reach upper walls.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 11 letters total
Answer
SCAFFOLDING
Word 3
Vague: The bare essentials beneath an outer covering.
Closer: Your skull, ribs, and other bones together form this.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 8 letters total
Answer
SKELETON
Word 4
Vague: The way separate parts fit together into a whole.
Closer: An essay gets this from the deliberate arrangement of its introduction, body, and conclusion.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 9 letters total
Answer
STRUCTURE
Full Answers
Spangram: FOUNDATIONS
Theme Words:
- FRAMEWORK
- SCAFFOLDING
- SKELETON
- STRUCTURE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, with the main challenge coming from thinking beyond literal building materials.
Trickiest Word: SKELETON is the likeliest sticking point because its anatomical meaning can feel outside the building theme. Think of it as the bare supporting arrangement, and the connection clicks.
Our Take: The prompt earns its flexibility by connecting physical support with the basic organization of an idea. FOUNDATIONS gives that connection a clear anchor, while FRAMEWORK, SKELETON, and STRUCTURE explore closely related meanings. SCAFFOLDING adds a useful wrinkle, support that helps something grow and can come away afterward.