I took my first look at today's Strands with a coffee in hand and a piece of toast getting cold beside me. The clue, "Oh well, too bad, such a shame ", immediately put a particular tone of voice in my head. Whether that voice was being kind or just a little theatrical was another question entirely.
That's what makes this a lovely little morning challenge. The prompt feels familiar, but turning that feeling into things you can actually trace on the grid takes a shift in thinking. I found myself mentally trying out different deliveries, as though reading lines rather than solving a word puzzle.
This page covers NYT Strands #1136 for Monday, October 5, 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 Monday, October 5, 2026 is "Oh well, too bad, such a shame ". There are 6 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 11 letters and begins with the letter S.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 11.
- The theme words start with these letters: A, B, B, S, S, U.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4 letters | Al... |
| B | 6 letters | Bo... |
| B | 6 letters | Bu... |
| S | 5 letters | So... |
| S | 5 letters | Su... |
| U | 11 letters | Un... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1136 is SADTROMBONE.
All NYT Strands answers for October 5, 2026
- ALAS (4 letters)
- BOOHOO (6 letters)
- BUMMER (6 letters)
- SORRY (5 letters)
- SUCKS (5 letters)
- UNFORTUNATE (11 letters)
Spangram: SADTROMBONE. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Think about how someone might react to a minor mishap, rather than searching for words that describe the mishap itself. Keep both genuine sympathy and exaggerated mock sympathy in mind, since the clue leaves room for different tones. Scan for short, conversational expressions first, checking diagonal connections as well as horizontal and vertical ones. If a promising sequence seems blocked, try starting from another copy of the same letter. Once you've secured a few words, use the remaining spaces to narrow down the longer possibilities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Monday, October 5, 2026, puzzle #1136, is SADTROMBONE. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 6 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 #1136 for Monday, October 5, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Tracy Bennett.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
