Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (Puzzle #857). 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: "Here comes trouble"
What It Really Means
Every answer on this board is a word for a mischievous, unruly, or troublemaking person. Think classic insults and old-school labels for someone who causes chaos, breaks rules, or just loves stirring things up.
Think About...
- Colorful, often old-fashioned terms for a misbehaving kid or rebellious type
- Words that could describe a prankster, a rule-breaker, or a general nuisance
- Synonyms that range from playful to genuinely disrespectful
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Across, down, across and up
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Second letter of the fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think of a small, fiery, mischievous creature often associated with chaos and temptation.
Hint 2 (Warmer): This phrase combines a size descriptor with a classic symbol of evil or mischief -- a being that sits on your shoulder and whispers bad ideas.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is L, last letter is L
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LITTLEDEVIL
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A long, playful term for a young troublemaker
Closer: Think of a snake -- specifically, one that might snap at you
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 15 letters total
Answer
WHIPPERSNAPPER
Word 2
Vague: A fiery, destructive person
Closer: This word shares its name with a mythological place of punishment
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 7 letters total
Answer
HELLION
Word 3
Vague: An old-fashioned, almost charming term for a rascal
Closer: The word sounds like a mix of "rascal" and "scallion" -- a rogue with style
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 11 letters total
Answer
RAPSCALLION
Word 4
Vague: A short, punchy word for a mischievous kid
Closer: This word shares letters with a type of shellfish or a small-time con
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
SCAMP
Full Answers
Spangram: LITTLEDEVIL
Theme Words:
- WHIPPERSNAPPER
- HELLION
- RAPSCALLION
- SCAMP
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: WHIPPERSNAPPER (At 15 letters, it's the longest word on the board and can be tough to spot if you're not thinking old-school vocabulary. The spelling also trips people up -- it's easy to drop a P or double the wrong letter.)
Our Take: This puzzle leans heavily on vintage mischief vocabulary. If you grew up reading classic literature or watching old cartoons, these terms will feel familiar. The spangram LITTLEDEVIL ties it together neatly -- small in stature, big on trouble. A satisfying solve for word nerds who appreciate a bit of linguistic flair.
