Strands Today: Hints, Spangram & Answers for #1066 — August 8
A grid of letters, one theme clue, no word list. The hints run softest first, and nothing above the answers section names a word from the grid.
The official theme clue
It has its ups and downs
Printed above the board in the app, so reading it spoils nothing — and the theme decides which words in the grid count.
Strands hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. This page remembers which ones you opened while this puzzle is current.
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Hint 1: What the theme is getting at
A reading of the theme. No answers.
The theme is about a thrilling experience with many turns and sudden changes in elevation, creating a sense of excitement and unpredictability for participants
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Hint 2: The category, said plainly
Amusement park attractions and features are the main category here, including various types of rides
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Hint 3: Board facts: how many words, how long
A 6 by 8 grid hiding 6 theme answers plus the spangram.
- Word 1
- 9 letters
- Word 2
- 7 letters
- Word 3
- 4 letters
- Word 4
- 4 letters
- Word 5
- 5 letters
- Word 6
- 6 letters
- Spangram
- 13 letters, side to side
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Hint 4: One clue per word, easiest first
Open as many as you need.
Word 1 (9 letters)
Twisting slide shape
Word 2 (7 letters)
Sharp turn on a slope
Word 3 (4 letters)
Sudden vertical fall
Word 4 (4 letters)
Circular path in mid-air
Word 5 (5 letters)
Path for wheels to follow
Word 6 (6 letters)
Enclosed passageway
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Hint 5: First two letters of every theme word
- Word 1
- CO… (9 letters)
- Word 2
- CU… (7 letters)
- Word 3
- DR… (4 letters)
- Word 4
- LO… (4 letters)
- Word 5
- TR… (5 letters)
- Word 6
- TU… (6 letters)
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Hint 6: What the spangram means
The long one that ties the board together.
A popular fairground ride with steep inclines and sharp bends, enjoyed by many for its thrill and excitement
Today's letter board
The grid as printed, 6 across and 8 down. Read only — reveal an answer below and this board traces it.
Today's Strands answers and the spangram
Spoilers below. Opening an answer traces it on the board above; the spangram is gold.
Word 1 · 9 letters
CORKSCREW
A spiral shape found in some slides
Word 2 · 7 letters
CUTBACK
A sharp turn on a hill or mountain
Word 3 · 4 letters
DROP
A sudden fall or plunge downwards
Word 4 · 4 letters
LOOP
A circular shape that rotates 360 degrees
Word 5 · 5 letters
TRACK
A path or course for something to follow
Word 6 · 6 letters
TUNNEL
An enclosed passage through something
Spangram · 13 letters, side to side
ROLLERCOASTER
A thrilling amusement park ride with many ups and downs
This board by the numbers
Constructed by Hunter Calvert, edited by Tracy Bennett.
- Puzzle
- #1066 · Saturday, August 8, 2026
- Theme answers
- 6 plus the spangram
- Board
- 6 × 8 letters
- Answer lengths
- 4–9 letters
- Spangram
- 13 letters, side to side
- Difficulty
- medium for a weekday board
- Valid non-theme words
- 947 accepted for hints
The last board we archived
The newest archived page is Strands answers for #1065, Friday, August 7, 2026, created once its date stopped being current everywhere on Earth.
The other two puzzles today
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Today's NYT Connections hints and answers
Sixteen tiles, four groups. Nudges first, full groupings last.
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Today's NYT Pips hints and answers
Easy, medium and hard boards with their rules and full walkthroughs.
How Strands works, in short
Every board hides theme answers plus one spangram — a longer entry touching two opposite edges that names the idea the others belong to. Trace through touching letters in any direction; each letter belongs to exactly one answer. Our full Strands guide covers the rest.
NYT Strands questions we get asked
When does a new NYT Strands puzzle appear?
At midnight in your own time zone, like the NYT app. This page reads that zone off your request.
What is the Strands theme for August 8?
The official clue is "It has its ups and downs". The spangram names the idea; the 6 shorter answers are examples of it.
How many words are in a Strands puzzle?
Theme answers plus one spangram. Today: 6 answers and a 13-letter spangram. The board also accepts 947 other valid words; every three buys a hint.
What is the Strands spangram today #1066?
ROLLERCOASTER. It runs side to side and touches both edges — that is what makes it a spangram.
What are all the Strands answers for August 8?
CORKSCREW, CUTBACK, DROP, LOOP, TRACK, TUNNEL, plus the spangram ROLLERCOASTER.
Is TodayHint affiliated with The New York Times?
No — TodayHint is independent. Strands, Connections, Pips and NYT are trademarks of The New York Times Company.