Today's hints
Each hint gives a little more away. Stop as soon as it clicks.
Theme hint — reveal hint
The clue “That can’t be right” points at words for nonsense or hogwash.
Spangram hint — reveal hint
The spanning word is a 12-letter adjective for something too wild to credit.
Word length — reveal hint
Theme words include short slang (5 letters) and a longer 10-letter classic.
Starter nudge — reveal hint
If you spot HOOEY or DRIVEL, you are already in the right neighborhood.
Spangram reveal-safe — reveal hint
It starts with UN- and ends with -ABLE.
Nearly there — reveal hint
Think “I can’t believe it” compressed into one word.
The answer
The solution, explanation and solve notes stay hidden until you choose to reveal them.
Reveal answer and explanation
Answer board
Spangram
UNBELIEVABLE
Theme words
BALDERDASHDRIVELHOOEYNONSENSERUBBISH
Why this answer
Strands #950 (Friday, October 9, 2026) wraps every theme word around disbelief.
Theme words: BALDERDASH, DRIVEL, HOOEY, NONSENSE, RUBBISH — all ways to call something bunk.
Spangram: UNBELIEVABLE. It fits the board theme and the clue “That can’t be right,” stitching the slang set into one spanning reaction.
Solve notes
How to find today’s spangram
Hunt short slang first (HOOEY, DRIVEL). Once two nonsense synonyms light up, scan for a long UN-…-ABLE path that crosses the grid — that is UNBELIEVABLE.
Why the theme clicks
Every leftover theme word is a synonym for worthless talk. The spangram is the emotional reaction those words provoke.
Tomorrow
Strands #951 lands Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Questions about this edition
What is today’s Strands spangram for October 9, 2026?
The spangram is UNBELIEVABLE.
What are today’s Strands theme words?
BALDERDASH, DRIVEL, HOOEY, NONSENSE, and RUBBISH.
What does the Strands clue mean today?
“That can’t be right” cues words for nonsense plus a disbelief spangram.
What is Strands #950?
It is the TECHi edition label for the Friday, October 9, 2026 Strands puzzle.
How do you play NYT Strands?
Find theme words in the letter grid, then the spangram that ties the theme together.
Recent Strands answers
Choose a date to revisit a verified edition.
Show the three most recent answers
Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 8, 2026 | Strands #949 | Theme words: ACCLAIM, CELEBRITY, EMINENCE, FAME, RENOWN, REPUTE. Spangram: LUMINARY. |
| Wed, Oct 7, 2026 | Strands #948 | Theme words: BARBIE, BUBBLEGUM, FLAMINGO, QUARTZ, SHOCKING. Spangram: TICKLEDPINK. |
| Tue, Oct 6, 2026 | Strands #947 | Theme words: BACKPEDAL, FLIP, OVERTURN, REVERSE, UNDO. Spangram: THEOLDSWITCHEROO. |
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