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NYT Strands puzzle #694 for Monday, January 26, 2026, has the theme “Grape expectations.” Spoiler-safe hints appear first; scroll to the answer section for the five theme words and the spangram.
Hints for Strands #694
The theme is “Grape expectations,” and the thematic nudge is “Cheers!” The spangram has 11 letters and runs mostly vertically, connecting opposite sides of the board.
For a gradual reveal, the theme-word initials are MA, ZI, ME, SH, and CH; the spangram begins BY. If you want to earn an in-game hint instead, the non-theme words listed by TechRadar are ZEST, THIS, BLOT, STAND, LIFT, and HARD.
Answers for Monday, January 26
Spoilers below.
- SHIRAZ
- MERLOT
- MALBEC
- CHARDONNAY
- ZINFANDEL
Spangram
BYTHEBOTTLE is the 11-letter spangram. It connects the wine-grape answers under the theme; it is not a grape variety.
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How Strands works
Parade’s January 26 guide attributes these rules to The New York Times: form words by dragging or tapping letters; theme words fill the board without overlapping, and the spangram describes the theme while touching two opposite sides. Finding three non-theme words earns a hint that reveals letters in a theme word.
Quick Recap
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