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NYT Strands puzzle #736, published March 9, 2026, has the theme “Cute enough to eat.” The spangram is ENDEARMENTS; the six theme words are PUMPKIN, BEAN, MUFFIN, NUGGET, DUMPLING and PEANUT. Spoilers follow.
Hints for Strands #736
The theme clue is “Cute enough to eat.” Think of affectionate nicknames that also sound like foods. The puzzle is described as easy by PC Guide.
If you want to earn an in-game hint rather than see the answers immediately, find three non-theme words. The guide lists these candidates:
- MILD
- DUNE
- STEAM
- STEP
- MILE
- DING
All answers for March 9, 2026
The six theme words are:
- PUMPKIN
- BEAN
- MUFFIN
- NUGGET
- DUMPLING
- PEANUT
Spangram
ENDEARMENTS is the spangram. The guide describes it as an 11-letter, single-word answer that starts with D and ends with E; it touches two opposite sides of the grid.
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How Strands works
Strands uses a 6×8 grid of 48 letters. Connect adjacent letters in any direction to form hidden words tied to the theme. The spangram describes the theme, spans opposite sides of the grid and is highlighted yellow when found. Finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals letters of a theme word.
Source: PC Guide’s March 9, 2026 guide to NYT Strands #736.
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