This archive guide is for NYT Strands game #218, dated October 7, 2024—not the separate daily puzzle for October 7, 2026. The theme is “Most excellent.” Start with the clues below, then open the spoiler section for the complete answer set.
Theme clue
The theme is “Most excellent.” The answers are words and expressions that fit that idea.
Earn an in-game hint
Try finding these six words in the grid to earn a hint: SALE, STALE, BLAND, SHOT, SCOT, SLEW. The archived guide lists them as example clue words.
Spangram clue
The spangram hint is “Good words.” It starts on the left side, fifth row, and ends on the right side, seventh row.
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How Strands hints work
A 2026 research paper describing the NYT version of Strands says answers can trace through vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent letters, without reusing a cell within a word. Each puzzle has a spangram that connects opposite sides of the board and reveals the theme. The paper also describes the hint system: finding three valid words outside the answer set earns a hint that highlights the letters of a hidden answer. See the paper’s description at the 2026 study of NYT Strands.
Spoiler warning: full answers
The complete answers below are transcribed from TechRadar’s archived guide for game #218, published October 6, 2024 and headed for Monday, October 7: TechRadar’s October 7, 2024 Strands guide.
- CHOICE
- GROOVY
- SWELL
- DANDY
- BOSS
- RIGHTEOUS
- HYPE
- Spangram: THATSCOOL (written as “THAT’S COOL” in prose)
TechRadar’s Marc McLaren, identified there as the publication’s Global Editor in Chief, remarked: “Who knew there were so many words that essentially mean THAT’S COOL?”
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