Strands · No. 894 · Friday, August 14, 2026

NYT Strands #894 hints and answers

Today’s theme clue is “Discovered by accident”. Hints for the theme and the spangram, one step at a time.

By DailyWordHint editors · Puzzle for Friday, August 14, 2026 · Puzzle by Tracy Bennett for The New York Times

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0 of 6 theme words found

Today’s themeDiscovered by accident

Every 3 non-theme words you find earn a hint.

0 of 8 hints used

The theme5 words

NudgeReveal nudge

Oops moments that ended up in your kitchen drawer

Helpful?

HintReveal hint

Accidental products: a mold-derived antibiotic, a burr-copying fastener, a toy spring, a melted-candy oven

Helpful?

One wordReveal one word

One theme word: VELCRO

Helpful?

AnswerReveal answer

Theme words: MICROWAVE, PENICILLIN, PLASTIC, SLINKY, VELCRO

The spangramTouches two sides

NudgeReveal nudge

Patent office shelves, stocked entirely by dumb luck

Helpful?

HintReveal hint

The category word: useful new things people create, here stumbled upon rather than planned

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One wordReveal one word

I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S (10 letters)

Helpful?

AnswerReveal answer

INVENTIONS

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