The NYT Strands puzzle for October 19, 2026, is No. 960. Today’s board challenges players to identify entities and spirits rooted in ancient folklore. If you are struggling to bridge the gap between the theme clue and the 48-letter grid, these progressive hints will help you find the theme words and the spangram.
Strands Hint: It’s all Greek to me
The official theme clue for today is “It’s all Greek to me.” This suggests that every word in the grid relates to Greek mythology, specifically focusing on the different types of supernatural beings and groups that populate those ancient tales.
Progressive Hints
- Broad Hint: Look for general terms for gods and various nature spirits that inhabit forests or mountains.
- Stronger Hint: Several answers refer to specific groups of female deities, such as those who control destiny or those who seek vengeance.
- Spangram Hint: This 12-letter word is the adjective used to describe anything belonging to these traditional stories or legends. It starts with an “M” in the bottom-left corner.
Spoiler Warning: The final answers and spangram for Strands No. 960 are listed below.
Strands Spangram and Answers for October 19
The spangram for today’s puzzle is MYTHOLOGICAL. It begins with the letter “M” at the bottom of the first column and winds upward and across the grid to connect the left and right sides.
The seven theme words for puzzle No. 960 are:
- DEITY: A general term for a god or goddess.
- DRYAD: A spirit or nymph specifically associated with trees and forests.
- FATES: The three goddesses (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) who controlled the thread of human life.
- MUSES: The nine sister goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences.
- NYMPH: A mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden.
- SATYR: A forest spirit typically depicted with the upper body of a man and the legs and horns of a goat.
- FURIES: The chthonic deities of vengeance who punished those who swore false oaths.
According to Nerd’s Chalk, the grid distribution perfectly fits these mythological entities, requiring players to navigate the specific terminology of Greek legend to clear the board.
