Issue #867 Sat 18 Jul
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — July 18, 2026
A steady, methodical start gives way to a more complex layout. Take your time with the intersections.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
A spoon dips into a rounded dish of toasted oats, nuts and honey, with texture and flavor doing the clueing.
Morning food and kitchen staples
BREAKFAST FOOD COMPONENTS
Spangram 4 hints · 13 letters
The connector word
Three-word noun phrase
13 letters.
Starts with B, ends with A.
BOWL OF GRANOLA
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 C (7 letters)
- 2 N (5 letters)
- 3 O (4 letters)
- 4 S (5 letters)
- 5 S (5 letters)
- 6 W (9 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 CR (7 letters)
- 2 NU (5 letters)
- 3 OA (4 letters)
- 4 SA (5 letters)
- 5 SW (5 letters)
- 6 WH (9 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The sound of dry leaves underfoot or a dry toasted baguette.
7 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CR.
CRUNCHY
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
Look at a walnut. Look closely.
5 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NU.
NUTTY
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Think of the texture of a classic porridge.
4 letters.
Starts with O.
Starts with OA.
OATY
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The kind of edge you find on a pretzel or a potato chip.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SA.
SALTY
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
Honey drizzled over fruit or a spoonful of maple syrup.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SW.
SWEET
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
Something that leaves you feeling satisfied without being heavy.
9 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WH.
WHOLESOME
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
- CRUNCHY
- NUTTY
- OATY
- SALTY
- SWEET
- WHOLESOME
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on July 18, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for July 18, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on July 18, 2026?
NYT Strands on July 18, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 6 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the July 18, 2026 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 13 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "B" — 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 July 18, 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 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 13-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 13-letter spangram