Puzzle Overview
Here is your NYT Strands hint for today, plus the spangram and all of today's Strands answers for puzzle #949 on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Hint for today's Strands puzzle
Today's Strands theme is A star is born.
Here is a helpful hint: Think about people whose autograph you might request, and look for words to describe them.
Hints and Clues
The goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle theme. If you get stuck, finding any words of four letters or more will help Strands reveal a theme word. Any valid four-letter or longer words will work.
MITE, CARB, CARE, RAVE, REAR, MACE, CLUE, CUTE, MINE, FEAR, PUNT, REEL, LEER, MAIN, CLAIM
Solutions and Spangram
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The objective is to find them all, including the spangram, which spans from one side of the puzzle to the other. Here are the nonspangram answers:
FAME, RENOWN, REPUTE, ACCLAIM, EMINENCE, CELEBRITY
Today's Strands spangram
Today's Strands spangram is LUMINARY. To find it, start with the L that is five letters down on the far-left row, and wind up and then down.
