Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, February 27, 2026 (Puzzle #726). 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: "It's a little much"
What It Really Means
This theme points to concepts of excess, overabundance, and things that go beyond what's necessary or reasonable.
Think About...
- Words describing too much of something
- Synonyms for excess or surplus
- Terms for unnecessary repetition or overdoing things
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Straight down then to the left, then down and across to the right
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Fourth letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase expresses frustration with something that's gone on too long or become excessive.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's what you might say when you've had enough of something that's become overwhelming or excessive.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is E, last letter is Y
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ENOUGHALREADY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: More than what's needed or appropriate
Closer: An amount that goes beyond reasonable limits
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 6 letters total
Answer
EXCESS
Word 2
Vague: An extra amount beyond requirements
Closer: What remains after needs are met
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 7 letters total
Answer
SURPLUS
Word 3
Vague: Going way beyond what's necessary
Closer: Excessive force or response beyond what's needed
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 8 letters total
Answer
OVERKILL
Word 4
Vague: Unnecessary repetition
Closer: Something that's duplicated without adding value
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 10 letters total
Answer
REDUNDANCY
Word 5
Vague: An oversupply
Closer: When there's too much of something available
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 4 letters total
Answer
GLUT
Full Answers
Spangram: ENOUGHALREADY
Theme Words:
- EXCESS
- SURPLUS
- OVERKILL
- REDUNDANCY
- GLUT
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: REDUNDANCY (10 letters can be challenging to spot in the grid)
Our Take: A clever theme that plays on the concept of excess in multiple forms. The spangram "ENOUGHALREADY" perfectly captures the theme's sentiment, while the five theme words explore different aspects of going beyond what's necessary. The puzzle requires thinking about synonyms for "too much" across various contexts.
