Letter Boxed July 24, 2026: Hints & Answers
Recap
This puzzle required a strategic approach to linking words across the board's sides. Solvers had to balance the need for common letters with the constraints of consecutive letters and word chaining. The official chain and alternate solutions demonstrate the board's potential for creative wordplay.
The board that was printed
Twelve letters, three to a side. A word could hop from any side to any other but never twice in a row from the same side, and each word had to start on the letter the last one ended on.
- TopAPD
- RightRCE
- BottomLMU
- LeftBOK
Letter Boxed hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the chain, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
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Hint 1: How the board wanted to be attacked
Method only — no word from the chain.
The board has a mix of common and less common letters. Look for an opening word that uses a side with multiple vowels or common consonants. The goal is to find a word that sets up multiple possibilities for the next word, avoiding sides with awkward letter combinations. Focus on using sides with letters like L, M, and R to create a flexible chain.
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Hint 2: Board facts: letters, par and how many words fitted
Read off the board.
- Top side
- A · P · D
- Right side
- R · C · E
- Bottom side
- L · M · U
- Left side
- B · O · K
- Par
- 4 words
- Official chain
- 2 words
- Words this board accepted
- 1041
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Hint 3: The opening word, without naming it
The first word has 5 letters and starts with C. Consider how this length and starting letter could help you access multiple sides of the board.
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Hint 4: How long the opening word was, and where it started
- Opening word
- 6 letters, starts with C
- Word 2
- 8 letters
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Hint 5: The opening word itself
The recap above already named it; this rung is for a replay.
- Word 1
- COUPLE
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Hint 6: What each remaining word had to do
Last rung before the full chain.
Each word after the first began on the letter the previous one ended on, and between them they covered all 12 letters.
- Word 2
- 8 letters, starts with E
Every word of that day's chain
All the words, folded. Each one stays hidden until you open it.
Word 1 · 6 letters
COUPLE
A COUPLE refers to two people in a romantic relationship. It uses the letters C, O, U, P, L, and E, clearing the side APD and setting up the next word to start with E.
Word 2 · 8 letters
EMBARKED
EMBARKED means to start a journey or venture. It uses the letters E, M, B, A, R, K, E, and D, clearing the sides RCE and LMU, and demonstrating a strong connection between the two words.
Other chains that solved that board
Any chain using all twelve letters, each word starting where the last ended, was a win. These came out of that board's own word list, so every one of them was playable.
Alternate chain 1 · 2 words
BACKCOMBEDDRUPEL
Alternate chain 2 · 2 words
CABLEMODEMMARKUP
Alternate chain 3 · 2 words
COCKLEBURRAMPED
This board by the numbers
- Date
- Friday, July 24, 2026
- Board
- 4 sides of 3 letters
- Par
- 4 words
- Official chain
- 2 words
- Words accepted
- 1041 on this board
- Other chains we verified
- 3
More Letter Boxed
See the live Letter Boxed hints and answers page for the current board, or browse every archived Letter Boxed date by month.
Try another puzzle
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The live NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers page
Six theme words plus the spangram, with a read-only board that traces each answer.