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NYT Strands puzzle #947, dated October 6, 2026, has the theme “Changing course.” Start with the spoiler-light clues below; the spangram and complete answer list are farther down.
Hints for Strands #947
Use these clues before revealing the answers:
- The theme points to changing direction or reversing a decision.
- One answer means to turn something over; another means to cancel or reverse an action.
- Look for a longer phrase meaning a surprising reversal or switch.
TechRadar lists HOOF, HOOT, STOVE, ROAR, SEAL, and SLED as words that can unlock the in-game hint system. Its contributor Johnny Dee rated the puzzle “Hard” and reported a score of one hint. TechRadar’s October 6 guide
How Strands hints work
Strands is a themed word search. Trace letters that touch vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, without using the same cell twice. Each puzzle also has a spangram: a phrase that connects opposite sides of the letter grid and reveals the theme. In the hint system described in a 2026 computational study, finding three valid words that are not puzzle answers unlocks a hint highlighting the letters of a hidden answer. LIPIcs / Schloss Dagstuhl, “Man, These New York Times Games Are Hard! A Computational Perspective” (2026)
Strands #947 spangram
Spoiler: The reported spangram is THEOLDSWITCHEROO, a 16-letter phrase. The two answer guides consulted agree on this phrase and the “Changing course” theme. TechRadar also describes its route as beginning and ending along the bottom edge, but that account conflicts with the usual opposite-side rule for a spangram. Check the playable board for the route rather than relying on that description. TechRadar; TECHi’s October 6 answer guide
#1 Best Overall
Strands #947 answers
Full-answer spoiler: The theme words reported for the puzzle are:
- FLIP
- UNDO
- REVERSE or REVERSED
- OVERTURN
- BACKPEDAL
The sources disagree on the third answer: TechRadar gives REVERSED, while TECHi gives REVERSE. Because the published guides do not settle the spelling discrepancy, use the in-game board to confirm which form appears in your edition. TechRadar; TECHi
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