Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, May 15, 2026 (Puzzle #803). 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: "Weaselly rascals"
What It Really Means
These are all members of the Mustelidae family -- a group of carnivorous mammals known for being clever, agile, and yes, a little rascally. Think long-bodied, short-legged predators that range from backyard visitors to wilderness icons.
Think About...
- Animals with a reputation for being sly or mischievous
- Creatures that share a biological family tree with the weasel
- North American and European mammals known for their hunting skills
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Down, across and down again
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: Third letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This is the scientific family name that ties all the theme words together under one taxonomic umbrella.
Hint 2 (Warmer): If weasels are the classic example, this word is the formal Latin-derived term for their entire clan.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is M, last letter is S
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MUSTELIDS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A mammal with a notorious reputation and a name that sounds like it belongs on a wanted poster.
Closer: Also known as a skunk bear in some regions, this black-and-white striped creature is more famous for its spray than its bite.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 7 letters total
Answer
POLECAT
Word 2
Vague: A sleek forest dweller with a name that sounds like a character from folklore.
Closer: This tree-climbing mustelid is prized for its soft fur and is often found in northern coniferous forests.
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 6 letters total
Answer
MARTEN
Word 3
Vague: The heavyweight of the weasel family -- tough, solitary, and not to be trifled with.
Closer: This iconic northern predator has a Marvel superhero named after it and can take down prey much larger than itself.
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 9 letters total
Answer
WOLVERINE
Word 4
Vague: A stout, burrowing animal known for its fierce attitude despite its modest size.
Closer: This black-and-white-faced digger is famous for its tenacity and the English village that shares its name.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 6 letters total
Answer
BADGER
Word 5
Vague: A long, slender creature bred for hunting that is about as sneaky as they come.
Closer: Domesticated for centuries to flush rabbits and rodents from burrows, this animal is the ultimate escape artist.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 6 letters total
Answer
FERRET
Word 6
Vague: A playful aquatic mammal that looks like it's always having a better day than you.
Closer: This sleek swimmer uses rocks as tools, holds hands while sleeping, and is the largest member of the weasel family in the water.
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 5 letters total
Answer
OTTER
Full Answers
Spangram: MUSTELIDS
Theme Words:
- POLECAT
- MARTEN
- WOLVERINE
- BADGER
- FERRET
- OTTER
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: POLECAT (Unless you grew up hearing "polecat" used interchangeably with skunk, this one can be easy to overlook -- it's less commonly referenced than badger or otter in everyday conversation.)
Our Take: A solid zoology-themed puzzle that rewards pattern recognition over wordplay. The "Weaselly rascals" theme is a clever hook that makes the connection click once you land on the spangram. The grid is tight enough that a few of these overlap diagonally, so keep your eyes peeled for twisting paths.
