August 1, 2026#881archive
NYT Strands — August 1, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's puzzle theme centers on skeptical reactions to a claim that sounds way too far-fetched to believe.
Hint 2 of 5
The spangram is a two-word phrase, squished into one, that you might snap back at someone who's clearly exaggerating.
Hint 3 of 5
Every theme word is an adjective for something so over-the-top it can't possibly be true.
Hint 4 of 5
Think of words a comedian or an eye-rolling friend might reach for to dismiss a wild exaggeration.
Hint 5 of 5
Five theme words: a short, punchy one meaning foolish, a longer one meaning worthy of a mocking laugh, and three more piling on synonyms for ridiculous and implausible.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
As If!
GETREAL
ABSURD · LAUGHABLE · LUDICROUS · PREPOSTEROUS · SILLY
This puzzle by the numbers
- 7 letters
- 5
Counted from our own archive of NYT Strands answers — not published anywhere else.
