Strands #972 for Saturday, October 31, 2026, in the order you need it: theme clue, board, progressive hints, then the complete solution behind a spoiler shield.
Our read of the puzzle: 6 theme words plus a 12-letter spangram; the spangram runs side to side; one theme word is a long one (10 letters), which usually anchors a corner. The theme clue is a riddle more than a description, so if it is not landing, find three non-theme words to earn a hint and let the game show you a word.
Today's theme and board
Today's theme“It's in the bag”
The board, exactly as it appears in the game. Words can bend in any direction, and every letter is used exactly once.
NAERPPDCSKALTYTICERTREATICRANGOTKOFSOTGNIRHBRUSH
Hints for today's Strands
Three levels of help, from shape to spelling. Stop as soon as the theme clicks.
Level 1 · The shape of itThe spangram has 12 letters and runs side to side. There are 6 theme words, with lengths of 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 10 letters.
Level 2 · First lettersThe spangram starts with T. The theme words start with: A, C, F, R, S, T.
Level 3 · Two theme wordsTheme word 1 (10 letters)
TOOTHBRUSH
Theme word 2 (7 letters)
STICKER
Today's Strands answers
The spangram and every theme word for Strands #972 are behind the button. Nothing is shown until you click.
▶ Reveal the answers to Strands #972
SpangramTRICKORTREAT
Theme wordsAPPLECANDYFANGSRINGSTICKERTOOTHBRUSH
The spangram on the boardNAERPPDCSKALTYTICERTREATICRANGOTKOFSOTGNIRHBRUSH
Yellow: the spangram, TRICKORTREAT · every other letter belongs to a theme word
Yesterday's Strands
Strands #971 on Friday, October 30 had the theme “All charged up”. The spangram was PLUGGEDIN and the theme words were CURRENT, ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, JUICE, POWER, SPARK. Our full write-up is still up.
How Strands works
Strands is a themed word search on a six-by-eight grid. Every letter belongs to exactly one answer: the theme words, which fit the day's clue, and the spangram, a word or phrase that describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. Words can turn in any direction but never cross. Find three words that are not part of the theme and the game lets you reveal one theme word as a hint. Today's puzzle was constructed by Christina Iverson and edited by Tracy Bennett at The New York Times.
A habit that pays: hunt for the spangram first. It is the longest answer, it has to span the board, and once it is in, the rest of the grid is cut into smaller regions that each hold a word or two.
Strands resets at midnight in your local time zone. We will be back tomorrow with hints for #973.