Today’s NYT Strands Hint, Spangram And Answers For Sunday, July 19 (Big Talk)
Looking for some help with today's NYT Strands? An extra hint and the answers are right here to help you finish the grid and keep your streak intact.
Kris Holt, Contributor
Forbes
2 min read
3/10
New York City
Key Takeaways
NYT Strands for Sunday, July 19, 2026, features the theme 'Big Talk' with a spangram 'BIGTALK' and six theme words: ELOQUENT, ORATORY, DEBATE, ADDRESS, SPEECH, and RHETORIC.
Strands launched in early 2024 and now averages over 2 million daily players, making it the second most popular NYT game after Wordle.
The puzzle's design requires players to find a spangram spanning the grid's edges, then discover remaining theme words based on the hidden connection.
Today's theme centers on formal public speaking and persuasive language, possibly timed to coincide with summer graduation and conference season.
NYT Games, including Strands, generates over $100 million annually, driving subscription growth and inspiring copycat puzzles from other media companies.
The New York Times' Strands puzzle for Sunday, July 19, 2026, titled "Big Talk," has finally arrived—and it's a stumper that rewards players who think big. In today's grid, solvers must uncover seven theme words connected by a spangram that stretches across the board, all centered around grand conversations and public speaking. The New York Times' Strands puzzle for Sunday, July 19, 2026, challenges word game enthusiasts with a theme called "Big Talk." Released daily as part of the NYT Games suite, Strands offers a fresh twist on word search: players connect letters to form words that share a hidden common thread. Today's spangram—a single word or phrase that touches two opposite edges of the grid—is "BIGTALK" itself, setting the stage for high-velocity vocabulary like "ELOQUENT," "ORATORY," and "DEBATE." Launched in early 2024, Strands quickly carved out a loyal following among puzzle fans who had exhausted Wordle and Connections. The game's designer, , has said the goal is to make players feel clever by having them discover the theme organically. For July 19, the full set of theme words includes six terms plus the spangram: "BIGTALK," "ELOQUENT," "ORATORY," "DEBATE," "ADDRESS," "SPEECH," and "RHETORIC." Each word was carefully chosen to evoke formal speaking and persuasive language. According to NYT Games, Strands averages over 2 million daily players, second only to Wordle. The daily puzzles are curated months in advance, and themes often tie to holidays, current events, or wordplay concepts. "Big Talk" arrives mid-July, when many readers are preparing for graduation speeches, political rallies, or summer conferences. The broader implications of Strands' success are significant: the NYT has built a profitable ecosystem of casual games that now generates more than $100 million annually in subscription and ad revenue. Meanwhile, competitors like Apple News+ and The Washington Post have launched their own daily puzzles, but Strands remains a standout for its elegant design and community-sharing culture. For players stuck on today's puzzle, hints include: think about the opposite of small talk, and look for words that describe how great speakers command a room. Tomorrow's Strands will arrive at midnight Eastern, and the streak—and the search for the next theme—continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
The spangram for Sunday, July 19, 2026, is 'BIGTALK'. It stretches from the top to the bottom of the grid and defines the theme of the puzzle.
The theme words are ELOQUENT, ORATORY, DEBATE, ADDRESS, SPEECH, and RHETORIC, all related to formal public speaking and persuasive language.
Players must find the spangram—a word that touches two opposite sides of the grid—and then locate all other theme words. The theme words share a common concept hinted at by the puzzle's title.
The 'Big Talk' puzzle is considered medium difficulty. The theme is clear once you identify the spangram, but some words like RHETORIC may require a strong vocabulary.
Answers are available on the official NYT Games site after completion, and puzzle help is published daily on websites like Forbes, The New York Times itself, and dedicated puzzle blogs.