Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, May 14, 2026 (Puzzle #802). 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: "Men in tights"
What It Really Means
This puzzle takes you straight to Sherwood Forest. Every theme word ties to the legend of Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men the outlaws, the disguises, the bows, and the authority figures they outfoxed.
Think About...
- Characters and roles from the Robin Hood folklore
- Weapons, locations, and key plot elements
- Words associated with medieval outlaw life and rebellion
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Horizontal (wraps across the board)
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The legendary outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.
Hint 2 (Warmer): The leader of the Merry Men, known for his green attire and skilled archery.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is R, last letter is D
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ROBINHOOD
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Something you wear to hide your identity.
Closer: Robin and his men often used these to infiltrate castles undetected.
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 8 letters total
Answer
DISGUISE
Word 2
Vague: A skill involving a bow and arrow.
Closer: Robin Hood was famously unmatched in this medieval sport and combat skill.
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 7 letters total
Answer
ARCHERY
Word 3
Vague: A religious figure in the Merry Men.
Closer: This jolly, corpulent monk was one of Robin's closest companions.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 5 letters total
Answer
FRIAR
Word 4
Vague: A large wooded area.
Closer: Sherwood is the most famous one, where Robin and his band lived and hid from the law.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 6 letters total
Answer
FOREST
Word 5
Vague: A local law enforcement officer.
Closer: The Sheriff of Nottingham was Robin Hood's primary antagonist and nemesis.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 7 letters total
Answer
SHERIFF
Word 6
Vague: A person who lives outside the law.
Closer: Robin Hood was declared this after defying the Norman authorities and corrupt nobles.
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 6 letters total
Answer
OUTLAW
Full Answers
Spangram: ROBINHOOD
Theme Words:
- DISGUISE
- ARCHERY
- FRIAR
- FOREST
- SHERIFF
- OUTLAW
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: FRIAR (The religious title is less commonly used in modern vocabulary compared to the other theme words, and its short 5-letter length can make it easy to overlook in the grid.)
Our Take: A solid theme that leans into classic folklore without being obscure. The spangram ROBINHOOD does double duty as both the thematic anchor and a satisfying reveal. If you grew up on the Kevin Costner or Disney versions, you'll breeze through this one. If not, the "men in tights" prompt might take a second to click, but once it does, the grid opens up fast.
