Today’s Strands leans into pub-quiz staples. If you want a nudge before the full solution, start with the theme cue and clue words below. Prefer to jump straight to the grid’s words and spangram? Skip to the answers section.

Today's theme (Strands #592)

Theme clue: “And the category is…”

Difficulty rating: easy.

Starter clue words for in‑game hints

Play any of these valid words to bank hints inside the game:

  • STORY
  • CHAT
  • GROSS
  • GUISE
  • STAIN
  • TRIES

Tip: In Strands, every three non‑theme words you submit earns a hint.

Spangram for Strands #592 (length and path)

  • Letter count: 11
  • Path: touches the left edge on row 1 and the right edge on row 5

Note: The spangram connects the board’s theme and spans from one side of the grid to the other.

NYT Strands answers for Oct. 16 (game #592)

Word Note
SPORTS Quiz category
GEOGRAPHY Quiz category
MUSIC Quiz category
HISTORY Quiz category
MOVIES Quiz category
NEWS Quiz category
TRIVIANIGHT Spangram (11 letters)

Yesterday’s Strands answers (game #591)

Word Note
OPEN Theme word
CLOSE Theme word
ALARM Theme word
LOBBY Theme word
GROUND Theme word
BASEMENT Theme word
ELEVATORBUTTONS Spangram

Quick refresher on Strands rules

Strands uses a 6×8 letter grid. Your goal is to find all theme words so every tile is used. The spangram is a special theme connector that runs from one edge of the board to the opposite edge. You can submit non‑theme words to earn hints (one hint per three valid non‑theme words). Play Strands on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile at nytimes.com/games/strands.

If you’re keeping a streak, today’s grid should feel fair once you spot one of the big categories—after that, the set falls into place.