Strands · No. 946 · Monday, October 5, 2026

NYT Strands #946 hints and answers

Today’s theme clue is “Oh well, too bad, such a shame”. Hints for the theme and the spangram, one step at a time.

By DailyWordHint editors · Puzzle for Monday, October 5, 2026 · Puzzle by Tracy Bennett for The New York Times

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0 of 7 theme words found

Today’s themeOh well, too bad, such a shame

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

0 of 8 hints used

The theme6 words

NudgeReveal nudge

Condolences, fake weeping, and the shrug that follows bad news

Helpful?

HintReveal hint

Casual commiseration: one old-fashioned lament, one mock-crying noise, plus slangy ways of calling a situation rotten.

Helpful?

One wordReveal one word

One theme word: BOOHOO

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AnswerReveal answer

Theme words: ALAS, BOOHOO, BUMMER, SORRY, SUCKS, UNFORTUNATE

The spangramTouches two sides

NudgeReveal nudge

Game shows cue a noise when nobody wins

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HintReveal hint

Vaudeville and cartoons mark a flop with a drooping musical sting; the phrase describes that sound's mood and source.

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One wordReveal one word

S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E (11 letters)

Helpful?

AnswerReveal answer

SADTROMBONE

Hints drafted with AI and checked automatically for spoilers. How we write hints