We’re running this one hot: Insider Gaming has published what it says are the full hints, spangram and answers for Strands Game #874, the daily New York Times word-search puzzle published for Saturday, July 25, 2026. If you’re a daily player and want to know exactly what popped up in today’s grid, Insider Gaming — via Robert DeFelice — lays it out, but take this with a pinch of salt until you verify in-game.
What Was Reported
According to Insider Gaming, the theme for Strands Game #874 was “unique clothing items from different cultures.” The piece gives three direct in-game hints that were allegedly provided for the puzzle:
- Hint 1: The national dress of Japan.
- Hint 2: A loose, flowing dress of Hawaiian origin. Homer Simpson wore one when he gained weight.
- Hint 3: The name of a very popular 2022 indie Zelda-like.
The article also lists starter words to help unlock hints in the game: ROWT, ROWTING, PLUTON, WELL, and DIRE.
Most notably, Insider Gaming reports the complete set of theme answers for Game #874 as:
- GOWN
- TUNIC
- DIRNDL
- PINAFORE
- MUUMUU
- KIMONO
And the spangram (the deeper theme revealed by the grid) was allegedly YOUWEARITWELL.
The Source & Credibility
Per Insider Gaming, the piece in question is written by Robert DeFelice. The post frames itself as a set of playable hints and full answers for the specific puzzle number and date.
Insider Gaming also repeats canonical details about the puzzle itself: Strands is a daily word-search game from The New York Times, launched in 2024; it uses a 6×8 letter grid; three-letter-or-shorter words do not count; words that match the theme appear in blue; the spangram turns yellow when found; and the game can only be played on the New York Times website or the NYT Games app.
Other design and staffing details relayed by Insider Gaming include that the original concept was developed by Juliette Seive, described as a research director on The New York Times Games team, and that Tracy Bennett has served as the puzzle editor for Strands since launch.
Take this with caution: we are relaying what Insider Gaming reports. If true, the information looks complete and aligns with standard Strands mechanics as outlined in the same post, but verification in the live puzzle is the safest route for players who want to avoid spoilers.
What It Could Mean
If the hits and answers listed by Insider Gaming are accurate, they give a concise snapshot of how Strands puzzles can lean on cultural themes and pop-culture clues. The three hints cited suggest the puzzle designers tailor clues to be both literal (national dress) and playful (a Simpsons reference), and that cross-media references (a 2022 indie Zelda-like) can anchor strings on the grid.
For daily players, these reported answers and the spangram — YOUWEARITWELL — would immediately resolve the puzzle and reveal how all letters connect. For puzzle writers and aspiring constructors, the published starter words and the revealed mechanic that “every letter on the grid gets used” (as stated by Insider Gaming) are useful confirmations of the game’s puzzle architecture, if true.
We’re skeptical but interested: the scoop reads as a straightforward spoiler post, which is precisely the audience Insider Gaming targets. Allegedly, the next numbered game is Strands Game #875, and the site notes that NYT games are updated daily at midnight in your time zone.
Why This Matters
Daily puzzle fans hate spoilers and love help in equal measure. A detailed leak of answers and the spangram for a single day’s Strands puzzle — if accurate — is useful for players who are stuck, but it’s also a reminder that puzzle communities orbit around both challenge and solution-sharing.
Take this with a pinch of salt: we report what Insider Gaming allegedly found for Strands Game #874, including the answers GOWN, TUNIC, DIRNDL, PINAFORE, MUUMUU, KIMONO and the spangram YOUWEARITWELL. If true, players who want to preserve the discovery experience should avoid the list; those who need a hand now have one — but verify in-game if you care about absolute accuracy.
