Issue #985 Fri 22 May
Strands hints — May 22, 2026
A patient grid today. Expect a steady climb as you trace path-like structures across the board.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You take the same route home and a single door is open that's never open.
Scale and proportion.
PUT DOWN YOUR RULER
Spangram 4 nudges · 6 letters
The connector word
Words snake through the grid to fill the entire board.
A horizontal sequence spanning the central row.
Starts with I, ends with G.
ITSBIG
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 A (10 letters)
- 2 B (9 letters)
- 3 E (4 letters)
- 4 I (7 letters)
- 5 V (4 letters)
- 6 W (8 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 AS (10 letters)
- 2 BO (9 letters)
- 3 EP (4 letters)
- 4 IM (7 letters)
- 5 VA (4 letters)
- 6 WH (8 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 nudges · 10 letters
A theme word
Beyond human scale, like the distance to a far-off nebula.
10 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AS.
ASTRONOMIC
Theme word 2 of 6 5 nudges · 9 letters
A theme word
Without a horizon, like an open prairie that stretches until it fades.
9 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BO.
BOUNDLESS
Theme word 3 of 6 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
A scale of storytelling meant to be told in a grand hall.
4 letters.
Starts with E.
Starts with EP.
EPIC
Theme word 4 of 6 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
The kind of scale that makes a person feel small standing at the base of a cliff.
7 letters.
Starts with I.
Starts with IM.
IMMENSE
Theme word 5 of 6 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
The empty space between mountain ranges where the wind picks up speed.
4 letters.
Starts with V.
Starts with VA.
VAST
Theme word 6 of 6 5 nudges · 8 letters
A theme word
A figure that surprises you when you finally see it on the receipt.
8 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WH.
WHOPPING