I tackled today's Strands with my morning coffee, while the toast cooled beside me and a neighbour's dog offered its opinion on the bin lorry. The clue, "A figment of your imagination", sent my thoughts wandering before I'd even traced a word. It's the sort of prompt that makes you question whether you're being too literal, or not literal enough.
My first instinct was to hunt for something obvious, but this feels like a morning for slowing down and letting a few possibilities settle. If you're staring at the grid with one promising idea and several wildly unhelpful ones, you're in good company. Let's take a closer look together.
This page covers NYT Strands #1134 for Saturday, October 3, 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 3, 2026 is "A figment of your imagination". 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 W.
- The shortest theme word has 6 letters, the longest has 8.
- The theme words start with these letters: C, I, M, P, S.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| C | 7 letters | Ch... |
| I | 8 letters | Il... |
| M | 6 letters | Mi... |
| P | 8 letters | Ph... |
| S | 7 letters | Sp... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1134 is WILLOTHEWISP.
All NYT Strands answers for October 3, 2026
- CHIMERA (7 letters)
- ILLUSION (8 letters)
- MIRAGE (6 letters)
- PHANTASM (8 letters)
- SPECTER (7 letters)
Spangram: WILLOTHEWISP. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Think about things that seem present but aren't quite real, rather than the act of inventing a story. Keep both everyday vocabulary and more literary language in mind, and try alternative spellings if a likely word won't connect. Trace each candidate through neighbouring letters, including diagonals, without reusing a square. For the spangram, stay open to a phrase whose spaces disappear in the grid. Once you've found a secure theme word, use its occupied squares to narrow the routes available around it, especially near the edges.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Saturday, October 3, 2026, puzzle #1134, is WILLOTHEWISP. 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 #1134 for Saturday, October 3, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Tracy Bennett.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
