NYT Strands #893 answer & hints: Thursday, August 13, 2026

Updated: Thursday, August 13, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). · Puzzle editor: Tracy Bennett.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Strands puzzle #893 of Thursday, August 13, 2026: 2 spoiler-free hint tiers that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

Today's Strands theme got you stuck? Start with the theme explainer, then reveal first letters, the spangram, and finally the full solution.

Strands is a themed word search: find the theme words hidden in the letter grid, plus the spangram — a special answer that touches two opposite sides of the board and names the theme. Every letter gets used exactly once.

Strands hints (August 13, 2026)

1Understanding the theme

The official clue is “Coming in hot”. There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.

2First letters of the theme words

F, F, H, I, T, Z

Strands answers — August 13, 2026 (#893)

★The spangram

FIREBRAND (9 letters).

★All of today's Strands answers

Spangram: FIREBRAND
Theme words: FERVENT, FIERCE, HEATED, INTENSE, TORRID, ZEALOUS

The puzzle, explained

"Coming in hot" is all about passion and aggression turned up to maximum intensity, and FIREBRAND nails it—a firebrand is literally someone who stirs up trouble with fiery conviction. The theme words are all synonyms for that burning energy: FERVENT, FIERCE, HEATED, and INTENSE are pretty straightforward ways to describe someone operating at peak temperature, and TORRID covers that scorching vibe too. The trickiest one here is probably ZEALOUS, since it's not as immediately "hot" as the others—but a zealot is exactly that firebrand type, someone whose passion consumes them so completely it becomes dangerous or disruptive.

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Strands — common questions

What is a spangram in Strands?

The spangram is the special theme word or phrase that touches two opposite sides of the board. It describes the puzzle's theme and always exists in every Strands puzzle.

How do I earn hints in Strands itself?

Finding three non-theme words in the grid earns one in-game hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word.

Can theme words overlap in Strands?

No — every letter in the grid is used exactly once across the theme words and spangram, which is a powerful deduction tool late in the puzzle.

Previous Strands puzzles

Full Strands archive (137 puzzles) → · How to play Strands (spangram tactics) →