Searching for the newest solution to the Strands puzzle? You’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll find not only carefully curated hints for today’s NYT Strands challenge, but also our daily guidance and complete answer keys for several of The New York Times’ beloved puzzle series — including the Mini Crossword, Wordle, the original Connections, and the specialized Connections: Sports Edition. Each of these games offers a unique way to test logic, quick thinking, and vocabulary, and our daily updates ensure that you stay current and confident as you play.
Today’s Strands installment from The New York Times is particularly enjoyable — a delightful mix of clever wordplay and seasonal relevance. It’s both entertaining and timely, capturing the spirit of the moment with a theme that evokes the shifting moods of the year. While some of the solutions may initially appear a little challenging to untangle or decode, rest assured that we’ve assembled a full set of hints and explanations to guide you through the trickier segments. Simply read on to uncover them.
If you’re unfamiliar with the rules of Strands or want a deeper understanding of how the puzzle operates, I’ve also prepared a thorough exploration that breaks down every element, from the way clues connect to the discovery of the elusive spangram that links opposite sides of the grid. That in-depth article offers a complete overview of the mechanics and strategies that make Strands so engaging for players of all skill levels.
On the other hand, if today’s intellectual curiosity leads you toward other NYT puzzles — perhaps the quick logic fix of Wordle, the pattern-finding challenge of Connections, or the concise satisfaction of the Mini Crossword — you can easily find those solutions as well. Our CNET NYT Puzzle Hints page consolidates all the daily clues, answers, and bonus tips in one convenient location, making it simple to access whichever brainteaser you choose to tackle next.
For reference and additional reading, you may also enjoy exploring our feature titled “NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far,” which highlights the most exhilarating and mind-bending editions from the past year — perfect for puzzle enthusiasts seeking a greater challenge.
Now, turning specifically to today’s Strands game: the theme is titled **“Fall-ing.”** If that phrase alone doesn’t spark your intuition, consider the accompanying hint: **“Crisp season.”** That subtle clue points you in the direction of autumnal imagery, grounding today’s challenge firmly in the atmosphere of the cooler months and the beauty of seasonal change.
In Strands, the primary goal is to discover hidden words woven throughout the grid that connect to the overarching theme. For players who find themselves momentarily stuck, it’s helpful to know that forming any valid words can be highly strategic. Every time you manage to identify three words with four or more letters, the game rewards your effort by revealing one of the theme’s key words. Below is the exact set of clue words I used to uncover my hints — though any similar words that meet the length requirement will serve the same purpose: **HARD, DUST, MORN, LOOT, HAVE, GALE, LOAF, TOOL, VEST, BUMP, DOUBT, BALE, BALL, FOOT, CHARD.** These examples illustrate the kind of varied vocabulary that can unlock progress step by step.
As for the actual solutions that correspond to today’s “Fall-ing” motif, here are the answers integrated within the theme. Remember, the ultimate objective is to uncover every one of them, including the special spangram — the single word that stretches from one side of the puzzle board to the other, connecting the grid in one elegant sweep. Although I originally assumed each game featured exactly eight theme words, experience has shown that the total can shift depending on the puzzle’s specific design. Once you’ve successfully found all of the proper answers, every letter within the grid will have been used, creating a perfectly complete solution. The non-spangram answers for today’s puzzle are: **CORN, FOLIAGE, HARVEST, FOOTBALL, ORCHARDS, and PUMPKINS.**
Finally, we arrive at today’s all-important spangram — the word that encapsulates the essence of the theme. For October 26, 2025, the culminating Strands spangram is **AUTUMN.** To locate it, begin with the letter **A**, positioned five spaces down within the far-left column, and then trace a path that winds gracefully across the board, linking all the way to the opposite side. When you’ve done so, the full puzzle reveals its cohesive picture, both visually and linguistically — a satisfying conclusion to today’s engaging Strands adventure, which beautifully celebrates the season of change.
Sourse: https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/todays-nyt-strands-hints-answers-and-help-for-oct-26-602/#ftag=CAD590a51e
