NYT Strands puzzle #736 for Monday, March 9, 2026, has the theme “Cute enough to eat”: affectionate nicknames inspired by food. The spangram is ENDEARMENTS. Find a gentle clue below before opening the complete answer list.
Today’s Strands theme hint
The theme is “Cute enough to eat.” Look for food words people also use as affectionate names. Parade’s guide gives these first-letter pairs for the six theme words: BE, MU, NU, PU, PE and DU; it gives EN for the spangram. Parade’s March 9 guide also reports that the spangram travels through a mix of vertical and diagonal moves.
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What is the Strands spangram?
The spangram is ENDEARMENTS. It describes the theme and, under the game rules reproduced by Parade, touches two opposite sides of the board. WePC reports that the word has 11 letters and begins with D and ends with E; that reported orientation clue conflicts with the spelling of ENDEARMENTS, so rely on the confirmed answer rather than that clue. WePC’s March 9 guide agrees on the spangram and theme.
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All NYT Strands answers for March 9, 2026
Spoilers below: the complete answer list is:
- BEAN
- MUFFIN
- NUGGET
- PUMPKIN
- PEANUT
- DUMPLING
- Spangram: ENDEARMENTS
Parade and WePC independently report the same six theme words and spangram. Strands Today’s March 9 archive also confirms the theme and spangram.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands hints work
Parade reproduces the NYT instructions: players drag or tap letters to form words, and theme words fill the board. Finding three words that are not part of the theme earns a hint. A hint reveals letters from a theme word; if a hint is already active, it reveals that word’s order. The spangram describes the theme and connects two opposite sides of the board; it may consist of two words.
Quick Recap
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