Strands Puzzle Overview
Here’s your NYT Strands hint for today, plus the spangram and all of today’s Strands answers for puzzle No. 968 on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
Strands Puzzle Overview
Today’s Strands theme is “Who you gonna call?”
Strands Puzzle Overview
And here’s a hint: Don’t bug me.
Unlocking Hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
Unlocking Hints
• CANT, MIST, MINT, MINTS, KERN, TERN, RAIN, MAIN
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them, every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
• ANTS, MICE, RATS, TICKS, TERMITES, COCKROACHES
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is EXTERMINATOR. To find it, start with the E that’s four letters down on the first column on the left, and wind into the shape of an arrow.
Let’s talk about today’s Strands puzzle
The New York Times features various themed puzzles throughout the week. This Strands puzzle pulls it off with a reference in the theme clue rather than the theme itself. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
