NYT Strands answers today for August 13, 2026 (Game #893) are here — theme is “Coming in hot”, spangram is FIREBRAND, and all 7 theme words fully revealed. If you are stuck on today’s Strands hints, you are in the right place.
For me, the best part of Strands hints today was seeing how quickly the grid clicked once the heat-themed idea started to take shape.
NYT Strands Answers Today — August 13, 2026 (Quick Overview)
NYT Strands today keeps everything tightly focused around strong, heated language from start to finish.
- Theme: Coming in hot
- Spangram: FIREBRAND
- Theme Words: FERVENT, FIERCE, HEATED, INTENSE, TORRID, ZEALOUS
If you enjoy other NYT word games, check out our daily NYT Wordle hints and NYT Connections answers updated every day.
NYT Strands Hints Today — “Coming in hot” Theme Explained
Strands hints today point to a theme that feels fiery, intense, and just a little over the top in the best way. The whole board leans into words that describe strong emotion or a blazing personality, so once you catch that energy, the rest starts to line up fast.
What made this one slightly sneaky was that the answers are all related by tone more than by a single obvious category. I had to stop thinking in terms of objects or places and start thinking about mood, attitude, and temperature. That shift is usually the key in Strands today puzzles like this.
By the end, the board felt very consistent, but getting there took a few careful passes. If you were working through NYT Strands hints today, the common thread was less about literal heat and more about words that sound heated.
Spoiler-Light Hints: First Letters for August 13, 2026
If you want a nudge before seeing the full reveal, these clues should help without giving too much away.
- Words to find: 7, including the spangram
- First two letters of each theme word: FE | FI | HE | IN | TO | ZE
- Spangram teaser: 9 letters, starts with FI — it describes someone with blazing intensity and a sharp edge.
NYT Strands Spangram for August 13, 2026
If you are wondering what is a spangram in Strands, it is the long answer that stretches across the board and ties the theme together. Today’s NYT Strands spangram is FIREBRAND, and it runs roughly diagonal across the grid, connecting the idea of heat, force, and passionate intensity in one clean sweep. It is the perfect capstone for a theme built around fiery temperament, and it makes the rest of the Strands today answers feel instantly connected.
New to the game? Read our complete guide on how to play NYT Strands or play today’s NYT Strands directly on the New York Times website.
All NYT Strands Answers for August 13, 2026
- FERVENT (7 letters) — A word that fits the theme’s passionate, heated vibe.
- FIERCE (6 letters) — This one matches the aggressive energy running through the puzzle.
- HEATED (6 letters) — It locks neatly into the “coming in hot” idea.
- INTENSE (7 letters) — A strong descriptor that feels right at home here.
- TORRID (6 letters) — Another heat-heavy clue that strengthens the theme.
- ZEALOUS (7 letters) — This one brings enthusiastic fire to the word set.
- Spangram: FIREBRAND (9 letters) — The spangram pulls every fiery descriptor together.
Is Today’s NYT Strands Easy or Hard?
We’d rate this one Medium. The theme is readable once it clicks, but the answers still ask you to think in shades of heat and intensity rather than in a single obvious category.
The word most players will probably find last is ZEALOUS, since it feels a little less direct than the shorter, punchier entries. My tip for the Strands puzzle today: chase the emotional tone first, then the literal heat.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands Answers — Making a difference
If you are checking your streak, here is the Strands answer today from yesterday’s puzzle too.
- Theme: Making a difference
- Spangram: PHILANTHROPY
- Answers: BESTOW, CONTRIBUTE, DONATE, ENDOW, GIVE, GRANT
What is today’s Strands theme?
Today’s NYT Strands theme is “Coming in hot”. It points to fiery words that describe strong feeling, energy, and intensity.
What are the NYT Strands answers today?
The NYT Strands answers today for August 13, 2026 (Game #893) are: FERVENT, FIERCE, HEATED, INTENSE, TORRID, ZEALOUS, and the spangram FIREBRAND.
What is the spangram for NYT Strands today?
The spangram for today’s Strands (Game #893) is FIREBRAND. It runs roughly diagonal across the grid and ties the heat-and-intensity theme together.
Is today’s Strands puzzle difficult?
We’d rate today’s Strands puzzle Medium — the theme is clear once you catch the vibe, but a couple of answers are easier to miss than the rest.
Can I review answers to older Strands puzzles?
Yes — we keep the past week of solutions right here on this page. Scroll to the “Past Week’s NYT Strands Answers” section for every recent theme, spangram and word list, newest first.
Past Week’s NYT Strands Answers
Missed a day? Full themes, spangrams and word lists from earlier this week, newest first.
Game #891 — August 11
- Theme: Fresh from the market
- 🟡 Spangram: SUMMERHARVEST
- 🔵 Theme words: CARROT, CORN, MELON, PEPPER, TOMATO, ZUCCHINI
Game #890 — August 10
- Theme: Back it up
- 🟡 Spangram: PROOFPOSITIVE
- 🔵 Theme words: DATA, FACTS, FIGURES, SPECIFICS, STATISTICS
Game #889 — August 9
- Theme: Isn’t that a bit much?
- 🟡 Spangram: IMWORTHIT
- 🔵 Theme words: EXTRAVAGANCE, FRILLS, INDULGENCE, LUXURY, TREAT
Game #888 — August 8
- Theme: It has its ups and downs
- 🟡 Spangram: ROLLERCOASTER
- 🔵 Theme words: CORKSCREW, CUTBACK, DROP, LOOP, TRACK, TUNNEL
Game #887 — August 7
- Theme: Struggling to find the words
- 🟡 Spangram: WHATCHAMACALLIT
- 🔵 Theme words: DINGUS, DOOHICKEY, GIZMO, THINGAMAJIGGY
Game #886 — August 6
- Theme: Blossoming forth
- 🟡 Spangram: FLOWERINGTREE
- 🔵 Theme words: CHERRY, DOGWOOD, HAWTHORN, MAGNOLIA, REDBUD
