Today's NYT Strands is live for Saturday, June 27, 2026 (Puzzle #846). 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: "Sweet re-lease"
What It Really Means
The pun is right there in the hyphen: "re-lease" splits "release" into "re" (again) and "lease" (rental agreement). This puzzle is all about types of residential rentals -- the different kinds of apartments and living spaces you can lease.
Think About...
- Different apartment layouts and configurations
- Real estate terminology for dwelling types
- Words that describe how a living space is structured or classified
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Across, up, across again, down and across
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: Begins at the first letter of the fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This word is the umbrella category that all six theme words fall under -- think of the building, not the unit.
Hint 2 (Warmer): These are individual rental units inside a larger building, each with its own layout type.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is A, last letter is S
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APARTMENTS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: An open-concept living space with minimal interior walls.
Closer: Typically a converted industrial or warehouse space, known for high ceilings and exposed brick.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 4 letters total
Answer
LOFT
Word 2
Vague: A compact, single-room living unit.
Closer: Combines bedroom, living room, and kitchen into one open space, with a separate bathroom.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
STUDIO
Word 3
Vague: A small apartment designed for maximum space utilization.
Closer: Often called a "micro-apartment," it packs living, sleeping, cooking, and dining into a minimal footprint.
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 10 letters total
Answer
EFFICIENCY
Word 4
Vague: A single-level dwelling on one floor.
Closer: Common British term for an apartment, often used in real estate listings for a self-contained unit.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 4 letters total
Answer
FLAT
Word 5
Vague: The most luxurious unit in the building.
Closer: Located on the top floor, typically featuring premium finishes, expansive views, and often a private roof terrace.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 9 letters total
Answer
PENTHOUSE
Word 6
Vague: An individually owned unit in a multi-unit building.
Closer: Unlike a rental apartment, this is purchased by the occupant, with shared ownership of common areas.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 5 letters total
Answer
CONDO
Full Answers
Spangram: APARTMENTS
Theme Words:
- LOFT
- STUDIO
- EFFICIENCY
- FLAT
- PENTHOUSE
- CONDO
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: EFFICIENCY (At 10 letters, it's the longest theme word and the most specific term -- casual players might think of the word in a productivity context rather than as an apartment type.)
Our Take: A clean, well-constructed theme with solid variety. The "Sweet re-lease" pun is clever without being cryptic, and the word list covers the full spectrum from budget-friendly efficiency units to luxury penthouses. The spangram APARTMENTS does double duty as both the category label and a satisfying find that ties the whole grid together.
