Strands · No. 949 · Thursday, October 8, 2026
NYT Strands #949 hints and answers
Today’s theme clue is “A star is born”. Hints for the theme and the spangram, one step at a time.
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0 of 7 theme words foundToday’s themeA star is born
Every 3 non-theme words you find earn a hint.
The hint ladder
0 of 8 hints usedThe theme6 words✓ Solved
NudgeReveal nudge
Red carpets, not telescopes.
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HintReveal hint
Six nouns all pointing at public standing — being widely known, praised, looked up to.
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One wordReveal one word
One theme word: CELEBRITY
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AnswerReveal answer
Theme words: ACCLAIM, CELEBRITY, EMINENCE, FAME, RENOWN, REPUTE
The spangramTouches two sides✓ Solved
NudgeReveal nudge
Old sky-talk, recycled for conference brochures.
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HintReveal hint
Formal noun once applied to heavenly bodies, now to honored guests in program notes and tribute speeches.
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One wordReveal one word
L _ _ _ _ _ _ Y (8 letters)
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AnswerReveal answer
LUMINARY
Hints drafted with AI and checked automatically for spoilers. How we write hints