NYT Strands #970 for October 29, 2026, uses the theme “Double, double toil and trouble,” focusing on ingredients associated with a witch's brew.
Today's spangram is CAULDRON, an eight-letter word that connects the puzzle's theme words.
The eight theme words are BLOOD, BUBBLE, FIRE, LIZARD, NEWT, SNAKE, TONGUE and WORM.
Thursday's NYT Strands puzzle draws on the famous phrase “Double, double toil and trouble.” The clue points towards a witch's brewing pot and the unusual ingredients associated with magical recipes. Players must find eight theme words and one spangram to complete puzzle #970.
NYT Strands is a daily word game from The New York Times. Players connect letters in different directions to find words linked to the day's theme. The spangram sums up the theme and runs across the grid. Finding three words outside the theme earns players a hint.
Today's official theme clue is:
“Double, double toil and trouble”
Think about a witch's brewing pot and the strange ingredients that might go into a magical mixture. The words relate to items mentioned in a well-known supernatural scene from literature.
Still looking for the longest connecting answer? Today's spangram contains eight letters. It names the large pot commonly associated with witches and magical brews. The word runs from the left side of the board to the right.
The spangram for October 29, 2026, is:
CAULDRON
The word links the puzzle's ingredients and captures the witchcraft theme behind today's challenge.
The complete answer list for puzzle #970 is:
BLOOD
BUBBLE
FIRE
LIZARD
NEWT
SNAKE
TONGUE
WORM
CAULDRON - Spangram
These words represent ingredients associated with a witch's brew. Some are familiar animals, while others refer to substances or elements linked to the puzzle's supernatural theme.
Today's puzzle can be tricky if you cannot connect the words to the witchcraft theme. Some answers are names of animals, while others are linked to ingredients used in a magic potion. Longer words such as LIZARD and TONGUE may also be harder to find in the letter grid.
NYT Strands #970 brings a spooky word puzzle for Thursday, October 29. If you found today's theme difficult, the hints and full answer list above can help you complete the puzzle and continue your daily winning streak.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Spangram for October 28, 2026 (#969)