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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The answer to NYT Strands #949 for October 8, 2026 is LUMINARY as the spangram, with six theme words: FAME, CELEBRITY, REPUTE, ACCLAIM, RENOWN, and EMINENCE. The theme is “A star is born.” Two independent guides, TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net, report the same set. If you only want a nudge, use the hint ladder below and stop before the full reveal.
Start with the hint ladder
Work through these in order. Each step gives a little more away, so stop as soon as the board starts making sense.
- The theme. The puzzle is titled “A star is born.” Think about fame, recognition, and public standing rather than anything literal about space or births.
- Helper words. TechRadar lists MACE, CREATE, MINCE, BRAIL, CLUE, WINNER, and TUNA as words that can be entered to unlock in-game hints. These are clue words only. None of them is part of the themed set.
- Spangram length. The spangram is eight letters long.
- Spangram position. According to TechRadar, the spangram runs from the left edge to the right edge of the board, starting and ending on row five.
- Full reveal. The spangram is LUMINARY. The theme words are FAME, CELEBRITY, REPUTE, ACCLAIM, RENOWN, and EMINENCE.
Full answers for October 8, 2026
| Part | Answer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spangram | LUMINARY | Eight letters, crosses the board from left edge to right edge on row five (per TechRadar) |
| Theme word 1 | FAME | Reported by TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net |
| Theme word 2 | CELEBRITY | Reported by TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net |
| Theme word 3 | REPUTE | Reported by TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net |
| Theme word 4 | ACCLAIM | Reported by TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net |
| Theme word 5 | RENOWN | Reported by TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net |
| Theme word 6 | EMINENCE | Reported by TechRadar and Walkthroughs.net |
Neither guide quotes an official NYT answer key, so these answers rest on two matching independent write-ups. If your board disagrees, check the answer in the game itself after you finish.
How Strands works on this puzzle
Strands is a daily word search on a 6×8 letter grid. Words are formed by connecting adjacent letters, and a path can bend horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Each puzzle has a spangram, a longer word that touches two opposite sides of the board and sums up the theme. Finding three valid non-theme words unlocks a hint, as Walkthroughs.net describes. A 2026 research paper on the game’s mechanics describes the same rules, though its illustrated example uses an earlier puzzle rather than #949.
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Tips if you are still stuck
- Look for the eight-letter spangram first, because it crosses the board and the theme words hang off it.
- Check the row-five edges. The spangram needs to reach both the left and right sides.
- Use the helper words to earn a hint before you spend time on theme words.
Where to play
Strands is a digital game on NYT Games, available on the web and in the NYT app. The sources used for this guide do not cover subscription terms, so check the NYT Games site for current access details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Date and puzzle number
This guide covers game #949, published October 8, 2026. Puzzle numbers and themes are assigned per day, so if you are reading this after that date, confirm the puzzle number in the game before you compare answers.
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