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Discover the ‘Split superlatives’ theme and how it connects to common idioms used to praise someone.
Get hints for all eight hidden words, including their starting letters and lengths.
Find the complete answers: BEES, CATS, VERY, BEST, GOLD, KNEES, PAJAMAS, STANDARD, and the spangram YOURETHE.
The August 20th NYT Strands puzzle features a playful theme, drawing inspiration from the everyday world, most importantly idioms that we generally use to praise people. True to form, Strands adds a clever twist to the traditional word search, connecting all the concealed words to a singular concept. Today's grid centers on well-known characteristics that define human behavior: praising someone and promising a particularly good time for both kids and those who relish a good puzzle.
The theme for the August 20 NYT Strands puzzle is “Split superlatives.” Looking at the theme, you may instantly not get anything out of it, but a closer look will reveal that the words that you have to find are all related to popular idioms. So, for those who are struggling, today’s non-spangram words are associated with phrases that describe someone’s excellence.
Here are subtle hints to help guide the search without revealing the answers directly:
The first word begins with ‘BE,’ and it’s a four-letter word.
The second word begins with ‘CA,’ and it’s a four-letter word.
The third word begins with ‘VE,’ and it’s a four-letter word.
The fourth word starts with ‘BE,’ and it’s a four-letter word.
The fifth word starts with ‘GO,’ and it’s a four-letter word
The sixth word starts with ‘KN,’ and it’s a five-letter word
The seventh word starts with ‘PA,’ and it’s a seven-letter word
The sixth word starts with ‘ST,’ and it’s an eight-letter word
Also Read: NYT Wordle Hints, Answer for August 19, 2026: Expert Walkthrough
The non-spangram answers in the August 20 NYT Strands Answer list include:
BEES
CATS
VERY
BEST
GOLD
KNEES
PAJAMAS
STANDARD
Each of these represents a well-known category often associated with human characteristics.
Spangram Section
The spangram for today’s puzzle is YOURETHE
The first step is to identify the theme before you start generating related words. The first step is to find shorter answers that will help you uncover useful letter patterns throughout the grid. Spangrams are often longer phrases, so scanning for extended letter paths across the board can lead to faster discoveries.
The August 20 edition of NYT Strands delivers a lighthearted, enjoyable puzzle centered on idioms we often use without even realizing. Initially, players will struggle to find the exact terms that connect to the theme, but once they start identifying the words, it will amuse them.
Overall, today’s Strands puzzle captures the charm that makes the game so popular. It combines vocabulary, visual scanning, and thematic creativity into a relaxing but rewarding daily challenge for word puzzle fans.
