The hints and full solution for the New York Times’ daily word game Strands are here for players tackling puzzle No. 966 on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Today’s theme is “Something to build on,” with the additional clue urging solvers to build a strong base. CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper provided the hints and answers for anyone stuck on the grid.
Strands challenges players to find hidden words on a letter grid that all tie into the daily theme, ending with a special word known as the spangram, which stretches from one side of the puzzle to the other. Once every theme word, including the spangram, has been discovered, every letter on the board will have been used. While the author initially assumed there were always eight theme words, the number can actually vary from puzzle to puzzle.
For players who need a boost, the game offers a built-in hint system: finding any three words of four letters or more on the grid reveals one of the theme words. Any valid words work for this, but the ones used to unlock hints in today’s puzzle included TOLD, SCAN, SCANS, DING, RING, WOKE, SOFT, FRAME and CANE.
The non-spangram answers that connect to today’s theme are SKELETON, FRAMEWORK, SCAFFOLDING and STRUCTURE, all of which fit neatly with the idea of something to build on. A screenshot of the completed board confirms the full set of solutions.
The spangram for Oct. 25, 2026, is FOUNDATIONS. To trace it on the grid, start with the F that sits five letters to the right on the bottom row, and wind up from there.
For newcomers or players hoping to sharpen their skills, a video guide titled “How to Play (and win) Strands” walks through the game’s mechanics and offers winning tips, making it easier to approach each day’s puzzle with confidence before the answers are revealed.
Original Source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-strands-hints-spangram-and-answers-for-sunday-oct-25-966/
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Publish Date: 2026-10-25 01:30:00
