Issue #968 Tue 27 Oct
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — October 27, 2026 Today
A tidy grid that demands a methodical approach today. Expect to spend some time tracking down the various unwanted guests hidden in the layout.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
A heavy canister, the smell of chemicals in the mudroom, and the quiet relief when the scratching behind the baseboards finally stops.
Household maintenance and professional pest control
PROFESSIONALS HIRED TO REMOVE UNWANTED HOUSEHOLD VISITORS
Spangram 4 hints · 12 letters
The connector word
Single twelve-letter noun
12 letters.
Starts with E, ends with R.
EXTERMINATOR
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 A (4 letters)
- 2 C (11 letters)
- 3 M (4 letters)
- 4 R (4 letters)
- 5 T (8 letters)
- 6 T (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 AN (4 letters)
- 2 CO (11 letters)
- 3 MI (4 letters)
- 4 RA (4 letters)
- 5 TE (8 letters)
- 6 TI (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
A long line of them marching across the kitchen counter toward a stray crumb.
4 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AN.
ANTS
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 11 letters
A theme word
The midnight scuttle when you flip on the light and something darts behind the fridge.
11 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CO.
COCKROACHES
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Small, soft-footed creatures that leave behind tiny droppings in the back of the pantry.
4 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MI.
MICE
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
They thrive in the crawlspace and are far larger than the typical household visitor.
4 letters.
Starts with R.
Starts with RA.
RATS
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
You might find their telltale sawdust piles near the wooden support beams in the basement.
8 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TE.
TERMITES
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
Tiny, hitchhiking parasites that you often find after a long walk through tall grass.
5 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TI.
TICKS
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
- ANTS
- COCKROACHES
- MICE
- RATS
- TERMITES
- TICKS
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 27, 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 6 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does today's Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 12 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "E" — 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 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 12-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 12-letter spangram