My dad solves Strands with his first coffee, I solve it on the train, and neither of us texts the other until both of us are done. This Saturday the clue is "Re-fresh-ing", which is either the friendliest nudge you will get all week or a complete red herring, depending on how your brain works before breakfast.
If you are stuck, start here and stop whenever you have had enough help. Everything below is arranged from the gentlest hint to the full answer list, so you can take exactly as much as you need and no more.
This page covers NYT Strands #1159 for Saturday, October 24, 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 Saturday, October 24, 2026 is "Re-fresh-ing". There are 7 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 10 letters and begins with the letter L.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 9.
- The theme words start with these letters: B, D, D, I, R, S, W.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| B | 6 letters | Ba... |
| D | 9 letters | De... |
| D | 5 letters | Dr... |
| I | 4 letters | Ir... |
| R | 4 letters | Ra... |
| S | 4 letters | Si... |
| W | 6 letters | Wa... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1159 is LAUNDRYDAY.
All NYT Strands answers for October 24, 2026
- BASKET (6 letters)
- DETERGENT (9 letters)
- DRYER (5 letters)
- IRON (4 letters)
- RACK (4 letters)
- SINK (4 letters)
- WASHER (6 letters)
Spangram: LAUNDRYDAY. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
The quickest way into a Strands board is usually the spangram, because it touches two opposite sides and tends to run long. Scan the outer columns first and look for letter pairs that rarely appear together by accident. If a word you are sure about will not lock in, try it starting from the other end, since Strands paths bend in any direction including diagonals. And when nothing moves, spend your non theme words deliberately to earn hints rather than guessing at random.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Saturday, October 24, 2026, puzzle #1159, is LAUNDRYDAY. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 7 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 #1159 for Saturday, October 24, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
