Issue #964 Fri 23 Oct
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — October 23, 2026 Today
Today's grid requires a sharp eye and a bit of patience. Expect a steady path through a series of overlapping distractions.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
The neighbor who lingers by the fence just a little too long after the conversation has ended.
Social behavior and personal boundaries
PEOPLE WHO INTERFERE IN OTHERS AFFAIRS
Spangram 4 hints · 8 letters
The connector word
A single compound noun
8 letters.
Starts with B, ends with Y.
BUSYBODY
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 E (13 letters)
- 2 I (11 letters)
- 3 N (4 letters)
- 4 P (6 letters)
- 5 S (6 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 EA (13 letters)
- 2 IN (11 letters)
- 3 NO (4 letters)
- 4 PR (6 letters)
- 5 SN (6 letters)
Theme word 1 of 5 5 hints · 13 letters
A theme word
Keeping one ear pressed against the wall to catch the muffled conversation in the next room.
13 letters.
Starts with E.
Starts with EA.
EAVESDROPPING
Theme word 2 of 5 5 hints · 11 letters
A theme word
Asking a friend exactly how much they paid for their coat, then following up with three more questions.
11 letters.
Starts with I.
Starts with IN.
INQUISITIVE
Theme word 3 of 5 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Peering at someone else's screen on the train because the headline looks interesting.
4 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NO.
NOSY
Theme word 4 of 5 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
Turning over a discarded letter to see if there is a return address on the back.
6 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PR.
PRYING
Theme word 5 of 5 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
Walking through an empty office and pausing to examine the papers left on a colleague's desk.
6 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SN.
SNOOPY
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
- EAVESDROPPING
- INQUISITIVE
- NOSY
- PRYING
- SNOOPY
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for today's Strands. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for October 23, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is today's NYT Strands?
Today's NYT Strands 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 today's Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 8 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 today's NYT Strands?
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 · 8-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 8-letter spangram