The spangram for NYT Strands #880 on July 31, 2026 is LEOTHELION. The theme is “Summer sign.” The six theme words are BOLD, BOSSY, CHARMING, DRAMATIC, GENEROUS, and LOYAL.
Three hints are below before the full reveal.
NYT Strands Hints – July 31, 2026 (#880)
Hint 1: The theme points to an astrological sign whose season runs from late July through late August. Today’s puzzle falls squarely inside it.
Hint 2: Every theme word is a personality trait commonly associated with people born under this sign. Not all of them are flattering.
Hint 3: The spangram names the sign and its symbol together, as they are traditionally paired in astrology writing.
NYT Strands #880 Answer: LEOTHELION
Today’s theme is the Leo zodiac sign, which runs from July 23 to August 22, making July 31 a date deep inside Leo season. The spangram LEOTHELION stands for Leo the Lion, the traditional pairing of the sign’s name with its symbol that appears across astrology charts, horoscope columns, and jewelry. It is one of the more compact spangrams in the Strands catalogue: ten letters, no spaces in the grid, and a phrase that most solvers who track the zodiac will recognize the moment the letters start connecting.
The six theme words are all personality traits attributed to Leo in astrological tradition. The sign is associated with fire energy, fixed determination, and a solar quality that pulls people into its orbit. Some of the traits are celebrated, others are gently unflattering, and a couple sit in between depending on context.
All Six Strand Words Explained
BOLD is the foundational Leo trait in most horoscope descriptions. Leos are said to enter rooms, make decisions, and hold opinions without the hesitation that marks more cautious signs. BOLD tends to surface early in solves because it is the shortest word and sits closest to the archetype.
BOSSY is the shade in the group. Leo’s love of leading tips into bossiness when unchecked, and astrologers have long included this as the sign’s most common flaw. Its presence in today’s puzzle is a signal that the puzzle editors were drawing on the full personality profile rather than a flattering shortlist.
CHARMING reflects Leo’s magnetism. The sign is associated with warmth and social ease, and CHARMING captures the draw that Leos are said to exert on the people around them. In the grid it runs longer than BOLD and BOSSY, which may push it toward a later discovery for solvers working from shorter words outward.
DRAMATIC is the most recognizable Leo marker after BOLD. Theatrical self-expression, a tendency toward grand gestures, and a dislike of being ignored are stock Leo attributes in virtually every astrology system. DRAMATIC is also a word that functions as both a compliment and a mild criticism depending on tone, which fits the sign’s reputation for keeping people guessing.
GENEROUS is one of Leo’s most consistently praised traits. The sign is associated with giving freely: time, attention, resources, and affection. GENEROUS is the longest theme word in today’s set at eight letters and likely the last one most solvers land, simply because longer words require more of the grid to assemble.
LOYAL rounds out the group. Leo’s fixed-sign quality is said to produce intense loyalty to the people and causes it commits to. Once a Leo is devoted to someone, the allegiance tends to run deep. LOYAL reads as the most quietly positive word in the set, a counterweight to the louder energy of DRAMATIC and BOLD.
Two days ago, Strands #878 on July 29 carried the theme “A made man” with spangram FABRICATED and six words for artificial human forms. Before that, Strands #877 on July 28 used ITSALLTHERE as its spangram. NYT Strands resets at midnight, and puzzle #881 will be available on August 1, 2026.
