NYT Strands for 13 October 2026 has the theme “Well, this is awkward”. There are five theme words and one spangram to find.
13 October 2026 NYT Strands #954 Theme: “Well, this is awkward”
The board has 8 rows and 6 columns, and every letter belongs to one of the five theme words or the spangram.
13 October 2026 NYT Strands: Hints
Open the hints one at a time. Each hint gives away more than the one before it.
Hint 1 · take it literally
The clue points to the feeling an uncomfortable moment can cause.
Hint 2 · effects on someone
Look for verbs about causing discomfort, dismay, or confusion.
Hint 3 · first letters
The theme words start with A, C, E, M and N.
Hint 4 · spangram route
The spangram starts on the top and left edges of the board and ends on the right edge.
Hint 5 · spangram shape and meaning
The spangram is one word of 12 letters. It means awkward enough to make someone wince.
Three words that earn a hint
These three words are valid on today’s board and are not theme words: FROM, MORE and SOME. Entering three such words earns one hint in the game.
13 October 2026 NYT Strands: Answers
The five theme words and the spangram are folded below. Open them one at a time.
First two letters of each theme word
The theme words start with AP, CH, EM, MO and NO.
Today’s five theme words
- Appall
- Chagrin
- Embarrass
- Mortify
- Nonplus
Spangram
The spangram names the theme and runs from one side of the board to the opposite side.
Spangram letter count
The spangram has 12 letters.
First and last spangram letters
The spangram starts with C and ends with Y.
Today’s spangram
CRINGEWORTHY
CRINGEWORTHY describes something awkward enough to make someone wince. APPALL, CHAGRIN, EMBARRASS, MORTIFY, and NONPLUS describe ways to cause dismay, discomfort, or confusion.
Reveal the board one word at a time
Each fold below adds one word to the board, so you can stop after any word. The last fold adds the spangram.
Word 1 of 6 on the board
Appall
Word 2 of 6 on the board
Chagrin
Word 3 of 6 on the board
Embarrass
Word 4 of 6 on the board
Mortify
Word 5 of 6 on the board
Nonplus
Word 6 of 6 on the board
CRINGEWORTHY
Yesterday’s Strands answer for 12 October 2026
Yesterday’s theme was “In a manner of speaking”. The theme words were Dialect, Jargon, Lingo, Parlance and Vernacular, and the spangram was TURNOFPHRASE.
More Strands: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play Strands on The New York Times
Also today: Wordle · Connections · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle
Earlier days: 12 Oct · 11 Oct · 10 Oct · 9 Oct · 8 Oct · 7 Oct · 6 Oct
Questions about Strands
When does Strands change to a new puzzle?
A new puzzle arrives at midnight in the player’s own time zone.
How many tries does a player get in Strands?
There is no limit on guesses, and the game cannot be lost.
Where can a person play Strands?
Play on The New York Times Games site or in the NYT Games app: Strands.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
- You’re given a theme.
- The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
- Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
- Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!
How to get and use hints
Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:
- To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
- When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.
Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.
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