NYT Strands Hints and Solutions for 23. July, 2026
Strands #989 for Thursday, July 23, 2026 is themed “Hail to the chief petty officer”: find 5 theme words and a 9-letter spangram. Every word below stays hidden until you reveal it.
“Hail to the chief petty officer”
Hidden Theme Answers
5 WordsHow NYT Strands Works
NYT Strands is a theme-driven word-search game where players trace connected letters across a 6x8 grid. Letters can connect horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in any direction to form valid hidden words tied to the daily theme clue.
- The Spangram A key theme word that spans across the entire grid from one side to the opposite side (e.g., left to right or top to bottom).
- Theme Words Every letter on the board belongs to exactly one theme word or the Spangram. No letters overlap or go unused.
- Hint Meter Finding non-theme words fills a hint meter. Every 3 non-theme words unlock an in-game hint that highlights a theme word's letters.
NYT Strands FAQ for July 23, 2026
How many theme words are in the July 23, 2026 NYT Strands?
The Strands (#989, 2026-07-23) hides 5 theme words plus the spangram, themed around "Hail to the chief petty officer".
How long is the July 23, 2026 spangram?
9 letters — it stretches across the board from one side to the opposite side.
What's the longest theme word in this puzzle?
10 letters — no spoilers, but long words are the easiest to trace first.