Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 18, #898 - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Here are hints and the answer for today's NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 18, 2026. Need help with today's Strands answers? We've got you. Today’s Strands puzzle is a bit tricky, with some unusual answers that could be difficult to unscramble. If you need hints and answers, read on. If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Tricked! Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work: These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight, but learn