Strands October 23, 2026: Answers, Spangram & Hints (#1158)
Recap
This puzzle involved finding words related to being overly curious or intrusive, culminating in a spangram that described a person who constantly interferes in others' matters.
The official theme clue
None of your beeswax!
Printed above the board in the app itself that day — the line that decided which of the many words hiding in the grid actually counted.
Strands hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the answers, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
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Hint 1: What the theme was getting at
A reading of the theme. No answers.
The theme is about being overly curious or interested in other people's business, often in a way that's considered rude or intrusive, and involves snooping around.
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Hint 2: The category, said plainly
The same idea, unhedged.
Category of words related to being overly curious about others
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Hint 3: Board facts: how many words, how long
Counted off the grid.
The board was 6 letters wide and 8 tall. 5 theme answers were hidden in it, plus the spangram, which ran side to side and was 8 letters long.
- Theme word 1
- 4 letters
- Theme word 2
- 6 letters
- Theme word 3
- 6 letters
- Theme word 4
- 11 letters
- Theme word 5
- 13 letters
- Spangram
- 8 letters, side to side
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Hint 4: One clue per word, easiest first
Crossword-style.
Theme word 1 (4 letters)
Tendency to be overly curious about other people's affairs in a rude way
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
Act of trying to get information by asking questions that are too personal
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
Having a tendency to snoop around and look for information that isn't yours to know
Theme word 4 (11 letters)
Having a curious nature that leads to asking too many questions
Theme word 5 (13 letters)
Act of secretly listening to other people's conversations
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Hint 5: First two letters of every theme word
Enough to start tracing.
- Theme word 1
- NO… (4 letters)
- Theme word 2
- PR… (6 letters)
- Theme word 3
- SN… (6 letters)
- Theme word 4
- IN… (11 letters)
- Theme word 5
- EA… (13 letters)
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Hint 6: What the spangram meant
The long one that tied the board together.
A person who constantly interferes in other people's matters, often uninvited and unwelcome
It touched both edges, running side to side across all 6 columns.
The starting letter board
The grid as printed, 6 across and 8 down. Read only — reveal an answer below and this board traces it.
Every Strands answer and the spangram
Every answer from that board, folded. Opening one traces its path above — the spangram in gold.
Theme word 1 · 13 letters
EAVESDROPPING
This is a form of secretly listening to others, often to gain information
Theme word 2 · 11 letters
INQUISITIVE
Being inquisitive means having a curious nature that can sometimes be intrusive
Theme word 3 · 4 letters
NOSY
Being nosy involves prying into matters that don't concern you
Theme word 4 · 6 letters
PRYING
Prying is an act of trying to get information that is not meant for you
Theme word 5 · 6 letters
SNOOPY
Snoopy individuals have a tendency to snoop around for information they shouldn't have
Spangram · 8 letters, side to side
BUSYBODY
A busybody is someone who constantly interferes in other people's business
This puzzle by the numbers
- Puzzle
- (#1158) · Friday, October 23, 2026
- Theme answers
- 5 plus the spangram
- Board
- 6 × 8 letters
- Answer lengths
- 4–13 letters
- Spangram
- 8 letters, side to side
- Difficulty
- medium for a weekday board
- Valid non-theme words
- 600 accepted for hints
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