NYT Strands #964 answer & hints: Friday, October 23, 2026

Updated: Friday, October 23, 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 #964 of Friday, October 23, 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 (October 23, 2026)

1Understanding the theme

The official clue is “None of your beeswax!”. There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.

2First letters of the theme words

E, I, N, P, S

Strands answers — October 23, 2026 (#964)

★The spangram

BUSYBODY (8 letters).

★All of today's Strands answers

Spangram: BUSYBODY
Theme words: EAVESDROPPING, INQUISITIVE, NOSY, PRYING, SNOOPY

The puzzle, explained

The spangram "BUSYBODY" perfectly nails the theme since a busybody is literally someone who meddles in other people's affairs—exactly what "None of your beeswax!" is telling them not to do. All five theme words describe different flavors of that same intrusive behavior: EAVESDROPPING and PRYING are the active forms of minding other people's business, NOSY and SNOOPY are the personality traits that drive it, and INQUISITIVE is the sneaky one here since it usually just means curious, but in this context it's that curiosity taken too far into other people's private matters. Together they paint a pretty complete picture of someone who really needs to learn to mind their own business.

Next in today's routine: Spelling Bee → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Strands on the official site.

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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 (185 puzzles) → · How to play Strands (spangram tactics) →