Strands · Hints and answers
Strands hints and answers for Monday, October 5, 2026
Monday's Strands board is a small pity party: six theme words for disappointment and sympathy, plus an 11-letter spangram named for the drooping trombone sound that scores a failure. The NYT clue sighs along with it.
Hints, in order
Hint 0 of 3Tap to show one hint at a time.
Hint 1 of 3
Think of reacting to bad news: the sighs, the mock tears, and the words you offer when something goes wrong.
Hint 2 of 3
Every theme word is an expression of disappointment or sympathy: a sighing interjection, a mock-crying sound, a word for bad luck, an apology word, a blunt verdict, and a formal word for unlucky.
Hint 3 of 3
The spangram is two words pushed together, 11 letters: SAD TROMBONE, the wah-wah sound effect that punctuates a failure.
Spangram and theme words
The spangram first, then all six theme words.
SPANGRAM
SADTROMBONE
ALASTheme word
BOOHOOTheme word
BUMMERTheme word
SORRYTheme word
SUCKSTheme word
UNFORTUNATETheme word
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