Today's hints
Each hint nudges harder. Stop reading whenever the word lands.
The answer
Tap to reveal. We blur it so you don’t scroll past the hints by accident.
Answer is hidden until you activate the reveal button.
Why this answer
The letters, categories, or grid logic that made this one tricky.
What made this one tricky:
- The spangram EMPIRESTATE is the backbone of the grid; solve shorter theme words first, then use the long phrase to close the board.
EMPIRESTATE ties the board to New York, while BAGEL, BODEGA, BOROUGH, DELI, STOOP, SUBWAY, and TAXI all fit the "In the Big Apple" clue. The set rewards noticing city-life nouns instead of searching for apple varieties.
Recent Strands answers
Stuck on a streak day? Past solves keep you moving.
Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jul 12, 2026 | 861 | EMPIRESTATE; BAGEL, BODEGA, BOROUGH, DELI, STOOP, SUBWAY, TAXI |
| Sat, Jul 11, 2026 | 860 | CASSEROLE; CHEESE, MILK, NOODLES, PEAS, PEPPER, SALT, SOUP, TUNA |
| Fri, Jul 10, 2026 | 859 | HONEYMOONPHASE; FULL, NEW, CRESCENT, GIBBOUS, QUARTER |
| Thu, Jul 9, 2026 | 858 | GROUPCHAT; KICKOFF, POTLUCK, SHINDIG, SOIREE, HANGOUT, BASH |
| Wed, Jul 8, 2026 | 857 | LIFELINE; HINT, HELP, RESCUE, SUPPORT, ASSIST |
More from the desk
BODEGA, SUBWAY, and TAXI are the clearest anchors. Once those appear, EMPIRESTATE explains why the shorter words all feel tied to New York street life.
FAQ
What is today's NYT Strands spangram for July 12, 2026?
Today's Strands spangram is EMPIRESTATE.
What are today's Strands theme words?
Today's theme words are BAGEL, BODEGA, BOROUGH, DELI, STOOP, SUBWAY, and TAXI.
What is today's Strands theme clue?
Today's theme clue is "In the Big Apple."
Get tomorrow's hints in your inbox
Daily Strands hints, answers, and trivia — sent fresh at midnight ET.