Wednesday, July 8, 2026

U.S. launches new airstrikes on Iran and Tehran fires back at Gulf Arab states

A mourner holds a portrait depicting Iran

The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war.

(Image credit: Khalil Hamra)

NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, July 9 (game #858)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, July 8 (game #857).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #858) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… On the lips

NYT Strands today (game #858) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • ALONG
  • TIERS
  • LUMP
  • MUSE
  • BLISS
  • PLUME
  • MAKER

NYT Strands today (game #858) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #858) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #858) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 858 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #858, are…

  • STICK
  • GLOSS
  • STAIN
  • LINER
  • TINT
  • BALM
  • PLUM
  • SPANGRAM: KISSANDMAKEUP
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

The first sight of this theme made me think of the old weight-loss mantra “a moment on the lip, a lifetime on the hips” intended to warn dieters off the brief pleasure of a potato chip, as opposed to the lifelong delight of a slender physique.

I digress, as we weren’t looking for dieting advice but instead things that could be applied to lips — of which there are many possibilities.

Fortunately, despite the high number of words in the search they were all short and easy to spot, with the biggest challenge provided by the 13-letter-long spangram.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, July 8, game #857)

  • SCAMP
  • HELLION
  • RAPSCALLION
  • WHIPPERSNAPPER
  • SPANGRAM: LITTLEDEVIL

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, July 8 (game #1626)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, July 7 (game #1625).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #1 — Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #2 — repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #3 — uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1626) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• T

• E

• A

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1626) — the answers

Quordle answers for game 1626 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1626, are…

  • GHOST
  • TREND
  • EXALT
  • ALONG

Even though I could see no other possibility other than EXALT, whenever a rare letter comes to mind there is always a moment of pause.

Fortunately I got my first three words easily, so I had plenty of space left if it didn’t work out.

Daily Sequence today (game #1626) — the answers

Quordle Daily Sequence answers for game 1626 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1626, are…

  • PREEN
  • BLARE
  • RUPEE
  • WHICH

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #1625, Tuesday, 7 July: ARRAY, SUITE, KIOSK, BOULE
  • Quordle #1624, Monday, 6 July: TRAWL, SPICE, PIANO, SHARK
  • Quordle #1623, Sunday, 5 July: PINEY, SWOON, TITLE, PINTO
  • Quordle #1622, Saturday, 4 July: ARGUE, MOTEL, OPERA, TRUCE
  • Quordle #1621, Friday, 3 July: AVERT, MOTOR, MANIC, WORDY
  • Quordle #1620, Thursday, 2 July: BULKY, PARSE, BELOW, MOVIE
  • Quordle #1619, Wednesday, 1 July: EASEL, OTTER, LYRIC, SHACK
  • Quordle #1618, Tuesday, 30 June: HALVE, DRYER, THERE, MINTY
  • Quordle #1617, Monday, 29 June: SLURP, CRACK, CRANK, PHONY
  • Quordle #1616, Sunday, 28 June: RUPEE, TOPAZ, FULLY, BEING
  • Quordle #1615, Saturday, 27 June: PRINT, MARRY, SADLY, BICEP
  • Quordle #1614, Friday, 26 June: JUICE, ARRAY, BONEY, SKIFF
  • Quordle #1613, Thursday, 25 June: SHELF, TAWNY, HYPER, SOLVE
  • Quordle #1612, Wednesday, 24 June: SOBER, ECLAT, GOOSE, NINNY
  • Quordle #1611, Tuesday, 23 June: ARDOR, DADDY, SERVE, SHEAR
  • Quordle #1610, Monday, 22 June: WAXEN, APNEA, CHIME, WAVER
  • Quordle #1609, Sunday, 21 June: ABBOT, NOTCH, DREAD, LURID
  • Quordle #1608, Saturday, 20 June: SLAIN, TAMER, VIPER, FALSE
  • Quordle #1607, Friday, 19 June: ALOUD, POINT, GLOBE, GROIN
  • Quordle #1606, Thursday, 18 June: LATCH, BRAWL, STEEL, CRUSH

Monday, July 6, 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, July 7 (game #856)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, July 6 (game #855).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #856) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Hitching a ride

NYT Strands today (game #856) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • CARGO
  • GATE
  • SLATE
  • CHAIR
  • REAR
  • GORE

NYT Strands today (game #856) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #856) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #856) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 856 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #856, are…

  • CART
  • BUGGY
  • WAGON
  • CARRIAGE
  • STAGECOACH
  • SLEIGH
  • SPANGRAM: IGETAROUND
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

I was having a merry old ride around this board until the final word and spangram slowed me down to a standstill.

Spangrams like IGETAROUND really are my nemesis and I came close, but not that close, to using a hint, but thankfully saw the unseasonal SLEIGH just in time before I disappeared into a letter-soup haze.

Finding non-game words was actually a good deal harder and I struggled to find the six required for this page.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, July 6, game #855)

  • BLOOM
  • EXPAND
  • SPREAD
  • FLOURISH
  • THRIVE
  • BURGEON
  • SPANGRAM: SUMMERTIME

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.