NYT Strands Answer Today (#950) – 9 Oct 2026 Solution & Hints
- About Today’s Strands
- Today’s Theme
- General Hints
- Spangram Length
- Spangram Orientation
- Spangram First & Last Letters
- First & Last Letters of All Words
- Spangram (Click to Reveal)
- Spangram Definition (Click to Reveal)
- Sample Words (Click to Reveal)
- Full Solution (Click to Reveal)
- Definitions of All Words (Click to Reveal)
About Today’s Strands
Puzzle #950 (published 9 Oct 2026). One special word — the Spangram — spans the grid and ties the theme together.
Today’s Theme
Theme: That Can’t Be Right
General Hints
- Someone just told a story so far-fetched that nobody at the table buys a word of it.
- This set gathers the words you’d reach for when waving off a tall tale as made up.
- Think tabloid headlines and gossip too wild to possibly check out.
Spangram Length
The Spangram has 12 letters and is one word.
Spangram Orientation
The Spangram runs vertical, stretching from the bottom of the grid up to the top while drifting over by a column along the way.
Spangram First & Last Letters
Begins with U and ends with E.
Pattern preview (length-obscured): U___E
Note: We always display first/last letters as X___Y with three underscores, regardless of true length.
First & Last Letters of All Words
- Word 1: B___H
- Word 2: D___L
- Word 3: H___Y
- Word 4: N___E
- Word 5: R___H
Spangram preview: U___E
Spangram
Click to reveal today’s Spangram
UNBELIEVABLE
Spangram Definition
Click to reveal the definition of the Spangram
UNBELIEVABLE — Too extraordinary, exaggerated, or implausible to be accepted as true.
Example: “After hearing his excuse for missing the deadline, she just shook her head and called it unbelievable.”
Sample Words
Click to reveal two words from today’s solution
- HOOEY
- DRIVEL
Full Solution
Click to reveal the complete answers
Theme: That Can’t Be Right
Spangram: UNBELIEVABLE
All words:
- BALDERDASH
- DRIVEL
- HOOEY
- NONSENSE
- RUBBISH
- UNBELIEVABLE (Spangram)
Definitions of All Words
Click to reveal definitions of today’s words
- UNBELIEVABLE — Too extraordinary, exaggerated, or implausible to be accepted as true..
- BALDERDASH — Foolish, senseless talk that isn’t worth taking seriously..
- DRIVEL — Silly, meaningless speech or writing with little real substance..
- HOOEY — An informal word for nonsense or an obvious exaggeration..
- NONSENSE — Words or ideas that make no logical sense at all..
- RUBBISH — Worthless or ridiculous claims that don’t deserve belief..
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