Issue #749 Sun 22 Mar
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — March 22, 2026
Some names are so successful they lose their capitalization. Today's board requires untangling these common household identities.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You ask for a specific brand in the shop, but the clerk hands you the store version instead.
Intellectual property and consumer branding
WORDS ONCE OWNED BY CORPORATIONS
Spangram 4 hints · 11 letters
The connector word
Two-word noun phrase
11 letters.
Starts with G, ends with M.
GENERIC TERM
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 A (7 letters)
- 2 D (8 letters)
- 3 E (9 letters)
- 4 T (7 letters)
- 5 Z (6 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 AS (7 letters)
- 2 DU (8 letters)
- 3 ES (9 letters)
- 4 TH (7 letters)
- 5 ZI (6 letters)
Theme word 1 of 5 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A white tablet taken to dull a headache or thin the blood.
7 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AS.
ASPIRIN
Theme word 2 of 5 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
The large metal bin sitting in the alleyway behind a busy restaurant.
8 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DU.
DUMPSTER
Theme word 3 of 5 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
A moving staircase that carries shoppers between floors in a mall.
9 letters.
Starts with E.
Starts with ES.
ESCALATOR
Theme word 4 of 5 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A vacuum-sealed container meant to keep your morning coffee piping hot.
7 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TH.
THERMOS
Theme word 5 of 5 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
The interlocking teeth that hold a jacket shut when the wind picks up.
6 letters.
Starts with Z.
Starts with ZI.
ZIPPER
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- ASPIRIN
- DUMPSTER
- ESCALATOR
- THERMOS
- ZIPPER
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on March 22, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for March 22, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on March 22, 2026?
NYT Strands on March 22, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 5 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the March 22, 2026 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 11 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "G" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on March 22, 2026?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 5 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 11-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 11-letter spangram