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NYT Strands for Friday, October 2, 2026, is game #943, with the theme “On the sly…” Start with the graduated clues below; the five theme words and the 14-letter spangram are further down, clearly marked as spoilers.
Gentle hints for Strands #943
- Theme: “On the sly…”
- Gentle clue: “Shhh, this is a secret.”
- Think about: Words for deceptive behavior and for avoiding notice.
Stronger hints if you’re stuck
Try the starting letters
The theme-word starting pairs are SH, CO, FU, DE, and ST. The spangram starts with SN.
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Use the board’s hint mechanic
Try forming non-theme words from adjacent letters: The New York Times rules reproduced by Parade say, “For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint.” TechRadar lists SKINT, FISH, NEEDS, SAVE, GOAT, and NEAT as valid clue words for unlocking in-game hints.
Spangram clue
The spangram has 14 letters. TechRadar reports that it touches the left side of the board at the fifth and eighth rows.
Spoilers: October 2 Strands answers
Stop here if you want to solve the board yourself.
Theme words
- SHIFTY
- COVERT
- DEVIOUS
- STEALTHY
- FURTIVE
Spangram
SNEAKINGAROUND
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands works
Strands asks you to trace adjacent letters to form words that fit the daily theme. The spangram describes that theme and connects two opposite sides of the board; it may be two words. The New York Times rules reproduced by Parade also say, “Find theme words to fill the board.”
Quick Recap
Rank #3
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