Past puzzleMay 24, 2026Puzzle #987

Strands hints: May 24, 2026

Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from May 24, 2026 (2026-05-24) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.

Puzzle #987 · 2026-05-24

Step through today’s Strands hints

Today's grid has 7 theme words and a 11-letter spangram. Category signal: Category List. Difficulty signal: Medium.

Layer 1

Hint 1 – theme clue

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Reveal layer

Turn, turn, turn

7 theme wordsSpangram 11 lettersMediumCategory List

Layer 2

Hint 2 – board structure

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Reveal layer

This board is built around 7 themed answers plus a 11-letter spangram that ties the whole set together. Touches the left and right edges.

7 theme wordsSpangram: 11 lettersDifficulty: MediumTheme: Category List

Use this layer when you want the structure of the board without seeing any exact answer paths yet.

Layer 3

Hint 3 – starting letters

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Reveal layer

Here are the opening letters and broad board regions for each hidden answer, plus the opening letter of the spangram.

Theme word 1

Starts with B • top-left quadrant

Theme word 2

Starts with C • bottom-left quadrant

Theme word 3

Starts with R • top band

Theme word 4

Starts with S • top-left quadrant

Theme word 5

Starts with S • bottom band

Theme word 6

Starts with S • top-right quadrant

Theme word 7

Starts with W • top-right quadrant

Spangram

Starts with T • Touches the left and right edges

Layer 4

Hint 4 – theme words

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Reveal layer

Here are the exact theme answers without the board paths yet.

BOBBINCOILREELSCROLLSPINDLESPOOLWINCH

Layer 5

Hint 5 – spangram

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Reveal layer

TRYTOUNWIND

Path: (6, 1) → (5, 2) → (5, 3) → (5, 4) → (5, 5) → (6, 6) → (6, 5) → (7, 6) → (7, 5) → (8, 6) → (8, 5)

Layer 6

Hint 6 – solved grid

Reveal this layer only when you want the next level of help.

Reveal layer

Blue cells = theme wordsGold cells = spangram

BOBBIN

(1, 2) → (1, 1) → (2, 2) → (2, 3) → (1, 4) → (1, 3)

COIL

(7, 2) → (7, 1) → (8, 1) → (8, 2)

REEL

(4, 3) → (4, 4) → (3, 4) → (3, 3)

SCROLL

(4, 2) → (3, 2) → (2, 1) → (3, 1) → (4, 1) → (5, 1)

SPINDLE

(6, 2) → (6, 3) → (6, 4) → (7, 3) → (8, 3) → (8, 4) → (7, 4)

SPOOL

(2, 4) → (2, 5) → (1, 5) → (1, 6) → (2, 6)

WINCH

(4, 5) → (5, 6) → (4, 6) → (3, 6) → (3, 5)

Theme clue

Turn, turn, turn

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