Update: We last updated this article with today's NYT Strands Answers on August 18, 2026.

NYT Strands is the new obsession for word puzzle lovers. This game is a captivating hunt for a secret theme hidden in a chaotic grid. If today's puzzle has you stumped, don't worry; we've got the clues and answers you need to solve the mystery. Here is NYT Strands answers today, with hints for August 18, 2026

NYT Strands #898 Hints for August 18, 2026

Here are today’s NYT Strands hints for you.

NYT Strands theme today is: "Fool me once ..."

While many words may reveal themselves to you, the game’s objective is to find words related to the day’s theme.


  • Strands hint No. 1:

    Today’s theme revolves around deception, trickery, and making someone believe something that isn’t true.

    Reveal Hint
    Revealed

  • Strands hint No. 2:

    Think about different ways of fooling, misleading, or tricking someone.

    Reveal Hint
    Revealed

  • Strands hint No. 3:

    BA, MI, BI, HO, DE, DU

    Reveal Hint
    Revealed

You don’t need another hint for today’s Strands puzzle.

NYT Strands Answer Today for August 18, 2026

Word 1

1 B
1
2 A
2
3 M
3
4 B
4
5 O
5
6 O
6
7 Z
7
8 L
8
9 E
9
Answer

Word 2

1 M
1
2 I
2
3 S
3
4 L
4
5 E
5
6 A
6
7 D
7
Answer

Word 3

1 B
1
2 I
2
3 L
3
4 K
4
Answer

Word 4

1 H
1
2 O
2
3 O
3
4 D
4
5 W
5
6 I
6
7 N
7
8 K
8
Answer

Word 5

1 D
1
2 E
2
3 C
3
4 E
4
5 I
5
6 V
6
7 E
7
Answer

Word 6

1 D
1
2 U
2
3 P
3
4 E
4
Answer

Spangram word

1 C
1
2 H
2
3 A
3
4 R
4
5 L
5
6 A
6
7 T
7
8 A
8
9 N
9
Answer

NYT Strands answers puzzle image

Answer
NYT Strands answers puzzle image

Today’s Strands centers on the idea of deception and trickery, with the clues pointing toward actions and people associated with misleading or fooling others. The theme creates a satisfying connection between the entries, while the vocabulary ranges from everyday expressions to slightly less common terms. The spangram also helps establish the puzzle’s central concept and gives you a useful anchor when the grid starts feeling difficult. Overall, it’s a clever, cohesive Strands that rewards recognizing synonyms and staying focused on the theme. I’d rate the difficulty 3.5 out of 5.

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How did you like today's NYT Strands puzzle? Easy, hard, or meh?

You can also check out today's answers for other NYT puzzles :

NYT Strands Rules

NYT Strands is a word game that is played on a 6x8 letter grid containing seemingly random letters. Each letter must be used in some way so that when all the words have been found, the board is full, leaving no letter unused.

Each puzzle has a theme, but you don't know what the theme is. A hint is provided at the start of the game. You must guess all the common theme-related words that have something in common, leading to the Spangram.

Spangram is a special challenge word or base of the theme. All the words, when solved, are denoted in blue except the Spangram, which is denoted in yellow when guessed correctly and touches two ends of the board, side to side or top to bottom. Spangram denotes what's common between all the other words on the board.

Note: Players can find non-theme words to earn hints. Every 3 non-theme words will unlock a hint.

FAQ

What is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a daily word search puzzle from New York Times Games with a hidden theme.

What time does NYT Strands reset?

A new Strands puzzle is released daily at midnight local time.

Is NYT Strands free to play?

Yes, NYT Strands can be played for free on the NYT Games website and app.

What is the Spangram in NYT Strands?

The Spangram is a special word or phrase that connects the puzzle's theme and spans the board.

Can I play previous NYT Strands puzzles?

Yes, you can play past Strands puzzles through the NYT Games archive, but you need to subscribe to it.

How do hints work in NYT Strands?

Finding three non-theme words unlocks a hint that reveals letters from a theme word.