Strands · Hints and answers
Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Tuesday's Strands board squirms: five theme words for the moments that make you want the ground to open up, plus a 12-letter spangram that names the feeling itself. The NYT clue admits it is awkward.
Hints, in order
Hint 0 of 3Tap to show one hint at a time.
Hint 1 of 3
Think of the moment everyone in the room goes quiet: embarrassment, inflicted on you or watched up close.
Hint 2 of 3
Every theme word belongs to the awkward family: to shock, to shame, to humiliate, and to leave someone at a complete loss for words.
Hint 3 of 3
The spangram is two words pushed together, 12 letters: CRINGE plus the word for deserving, as in worthy of attention.
Spangram and theme words
The spangram first, then all five theme words.
SPANGRAM
CRINGEWORTHY
APPALLTheme word
CHAGRINTheme word
EMBARRASSTheme word
MORTIFYTheme word
NONPLUSTheme word
Next on the board
NYT Mini Crossword →
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