I had barely stirred my morning coffee before today's Strands clue, "They don't make 'em like they used to", sent me wandering down memory lane. It's the sort of phrase I can hear a relative saying while inspecting something perfectly serviceable, usually with a small shake of the head. Naturally, I started looking for far too many possibilities at once.
Once I'd stopped mentally rummaging through the entire house, the puzzle began to feel more manageable. There's a lovely little moment with this one when a vague sense of familiarity turns into a proper line of enquiry. If you're still staring at the grid, don't rush to spend a hint. A slight change of perspective might be all you need.
This page covers NYT Strands #1146 for Sunday, October 11, 2026. You will find the theme clue, a spoiler free hint, a stronger hint, the spangram and every theme word, in that order. Scroll slowly and stop where you like.
Today's Strands theme
The official clue for Sunday, October 11, 2026 is "They don't make 'em like they used to". There are 5 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 12 letters and begins with the letter O.
- The shortest theme word has 5 letters, the longest has 10.
- The theme words start with these letters: I, I, P, T, T.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| I | 6 letters | Ic... |
| I | 7 letters | In... |
| P | 5 letters | Pa... |
| T | 8 letters | Te... |
| T | 10 letters | Ty... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1146 is OLDFASHIONED.
All NYT Strands answers for October 11, 2026
- ICEBOX (6 letters)
- INKWELL (7 letters)
- PAGER (5 letters)
- TELEGRAM (8 letters)
- TYPEWRITER (10 letters)
Spangram: OLDFASHIONED. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Treat the clue as a nudge towards things from an earlier era, rather than a judgement about quality. Think across several everyday activities instead of limiting yourself to one room or one kind of object. This board mixes shorter entries with longer ones, so scan for compact, familiar letter patterns first, then trace possible extensions through neighbouring squares, including diagonals. When you find a word, use its cleared path to inspect the remaining pockets. For the spangram, look for a broad description that could unite the objects, not another object itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Sunday, October 11, 2026, puzzle #1146, is OLDFASHIONED. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 5 theme words today, plus the spangram.
How do you earn hints in Strands?
Find any valid non theme word of at least four letters. Every three of those unlocks one hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word without ordering them for you.
What time does a new Strands puzzle appear?
A new puzzle goes live at midnight in your local time zone, so this page is updated every morning with the new board.
Sources
- NYT Games, Strands puzzle #1146 for Sunday, October 11, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Jen Scheerer.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
