The NYT Strands puzzle for October 11, 2026, is No. 952. Today’s theme focuses on items that have largely disappeared from modern daily life, replaced by digital alternatives or more advanced appliances.
Theme Hint: They don’t make ’em like they used to
The theme title for puzzle No. 952 is “They don’t make ’em like they used to.” This is a nod to nostalgia and obsolescence. To solve this grid, think about pieces of technology and household objects that were essential in the 19th and 20th centuries but feel like museum pieces today.
- Hint 1: One word is a handheld communication device popular in the 90s before cell phones were ubiquitous.
- Hint 2: Look for a word that describes how people kept food cold before electricity and modern refrigerators.
- Hint 3: Several words relate to writing and sending messages in the era of physical mail and manual machinery.
Spangram Hint
The spangram for today is a 12-letter word (often written as two words) used to describe something that is out of style, antiquated, or belonging to a previous era. It starts on the top row and winds its way to the bottom of the grid.
Spoiler Warning: The final answers and spangram path for Strands No. 952 are listed below.
NYT Strands Answers for October 11, No. 952
All letters on the 6×8 board are used to form the following six theme words. The spangram describes the nature of these items collectively.
- PAGER: A small device that beeps or vibrates to alert the user of a message.
- ICEBOX: A compact non-mechanical crate used for keeping food cold with a block of ice.
- INKWELL: A small container for ink, used before the invention of the ballpoint pen.
- TELEGRAM: A message sent by telegraph and then delivered in written or printed form.
- TYPEWRITER: A mechanical machine for writing characters similar to those produced by a printer’s movable type.
- OLDFASHIONED (Spangram): This word describes the theme of retro-technology and vintage household goods. According to CNET, the spangram begins with the letter “O” located three letters to the right on the top row of the grid.
Each word in the 48-letter grid fits the category of outdated communication or utility, contrasting the “old fashioned” methods of the past with the high-tech reality of 2026.
