I had barely taken the first sip of my morning coffee before today's Strands clue, "On the sly ...", sent me off on a little mental detour. Was I looking for secret activities, quiet movements or the sort of behaviour that earns someone a raised eyebrow? With the toast cooling beside me, I decided this was a board that deserved a slower look.
There's something lovely about a clue that gives you a mood before it gives you a clear category. My instinct was to start inventing elaborate scenarios, but the more useful question was much simpler: what kind of language does that phrase suggest? If you're hovering over the grid without committing, I'd start there.
This page covers NYT Strands #1133 for Friday, October 2, 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 Friday, October 2, 2026 is "On the sly ...". 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 14 letters and begins with the letter S.
- The shortest theme word has 6 letters, the longest has 8.
- The theme words start with these letters: C, D, F, S, S.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| C | 6 letters | Co... |
| D | 7 letters | De... |
| F | 7 letters | Fu... |
| S | 6 letters | Sh... |
| S | 8 letters | St... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1133 is SNEAKINGAROUND.
All NYT Strands answers for October 2, 2026
- COVERT (6 letters)
- DEVIOUS (7 letters)
- FURTIVE (7 letters)
- SHIFTY (6 letters)
- STEALTHY (8 letters)
Spangram: SNEAKINGAROUND. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Try turning the clue into a description of a person or the way an action is carried out, rather than searching for objects associated with secrets. That should help narrow the vocabulary. Scan for familiar adjective endings, then trace neighbouring letters backwards to see whether a complete word emerges. Remember that paths can bend and travel diagonally, so a promising start needn't continue in a straight line. Once you've secured a shorter entry, use its occupied cells to make the remaining routes easier to spot, especially when hunting for the longer connection across the board.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Friday, October 2, 2026, puzzle #1133, is SNEAKINGAROUND. 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 #1133 for Friday, October 2, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
