NYT Strands Answer Yesterday — Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Puzzle #1070 • Difficulty 6/10
Yesterday's NYT Strands Answer
Yesterday's Strands Answers
Deep Dive
Theme Analysis
Theme clue: "Making a difference"
Theme words: 6 words to find
Total answer letters: 48 (19 unique)
Spangram Breakdown
Word: PHILANTHROPY
Length: 12 letters
Unique letters: 10 of 12
Word Statistics
Longest word: CONTRIBUTE (10 letters)
Shortest word: GIVE (4 letters)
Average length: 6.0 letters
Top Letters
Puzzle Analysis
The theme for the recent Strands puzzle was "Things Found in a Drawer." This one presented a moderate challenge. The key insight was recognizing the commonality between seemingly disparate items. Several words were quite straightforward, like "SOCKS" and "PENS." However, "HAIR TIES" and "RUBBER BANDS" required a bit more thought to connect. The difficulty felt about right at a 6/10. It wasn't overly obscure, but a few entries demanded careful consideration of their shared purpose. The puzzle offered a satisfying solve without being frustrating.
How to Play NYT Strands
NYT Strands presents a 6×8 grid of scrambled letters. Your goal is to find all the themed words hidden in the grid, plus a special word called the spangram.
Words are formed by connecting adjacent letters in any direction: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Letters must be connected in sequence, and each letter can only be used once per word.
The spangram is a special word that touches two opposite sides of the board and reveals the puzzle’s theme. Finding it first can help you identify the remaining words.
Use the theme clue at the top of the puzzle to figure out what all the words have in common. A new Strands puzzle is available daily.
Play at nytimes.com/games/strands. A new puzzle is available every day.
Tips & Strategy
- Read the theme clue first. It tells you the category connecting all the hidden words. Think broadly about what words could fit.
- Look for the spangram early. It’s usually the longest word and spans from one side of the board to the other, which helps you map out the remaining words.
- Theme words do not overlap. Each letter in the grid belongs to one answer. Once you find some words, the remaining letters narrow down what is left.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NYT Strands repeat past answers?
Where can I find all past NYT Strands answers?
How is difficulty rated?
More Special Games
Looking for more puzzles? Try Contexto hints today, NYT Mini Crossword help, or Nerdle hint today.