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Today’s NYT Strands puzzle revolves around deception and trickery. The theme clue, “Fool me once...,” points players toward words that mean to deceive, mislead, or fool someone.
The answers include BILK, DUPE, DECEIVE, MISLEAD, BAMBOOZLE, and HOODWINK.
The puzzle’s Spangram is CHARLATAN, a word that fits perfectly with today’s deception-focused theme.
Today's NYT Strands puzzle presents an extremely common challenge: the non-spangram words are all familiar, though the passive connection between them must be discovered to figure them out. Once a few words appear, the overall theme becomes much easier to identify. Unlike the other theme words, the Spangram stretches across the grid, connecting two opposite sides. It can change direction as it winds through adjacent letters, making it one of the puzzle's defining features.
Today's NYT Strands is ‘Fool me once....’ Once you look at the theme, you’ll be sure it's about scams or fooling people. So, the words related to today’s theme are all connected to being tricked. So, the non-spangram words of today are associated with some of the most common words we often use when we get scammed somehow, or someone tries to trick us.
Most of the words are easy to identify, although a few may be slightly trickier depending on familiarity with the world of crime and fraud. The solution provides complete satisfaction because the theme remains unchanged from start to finish.
Here are the clues for each word in today’s puzzle:
First word: A four-letter word starting with BI
Second word: A four-letter word starting with DU
Third word: A seven-letter word starting with DE
Fourth word: A seven-letter word starting with MI
Fifth word: A nine-letter word starting with BA
Sixth word: An eight-letter word starting with HO
Also Read: NYT Wordle Hints, Answer for August 17, 2026: Expert Walkthrough
The non-spangram answers for the August 18 NYT Strands Answer are:
BILK
DUPE
DECEIVE
MISLEAD
BAMBOOZLE
HOODWINK
Spangram Explained
Spangram: CHARLATAN
Check Out the Image Below to Learn How to Make the Sets of Today's Puzzle:
Today's puzzle provides a simple yet enjoyable challenge featuring terms we often use when referring to a scam or being fooled. The NYT Strands Today puzzle combines entertaining wordplay with established categories to deliver a daily puzzle that offers satisfying gameplay for all players.
