August 18, 2026#898archive
NYT Strands — August 18, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's grid is about tricking someone into believing something false.
Hint 2 of 5
Every non-spangram word is a verb meaning to con, trick, or deceive someone.
Hint 3 of 5
One entry is a playful, almost cartoonish word for confusing or fooling someone; another means to cheat someone out of money.
Hint 4 of 5
The spangram names the kind of person who makes a living pulling these tricks — a fraud or fake expert.
Hint 5 of 5
Look for BAMBOOZLE, BILK, DECEIVE, DUPE, HOODWINK and MISLEAD, all spanned by CHARLATAN.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
Fool me once ...
CHARLATAN
BAMBOOZLE · BILK · DECEIVE · DUPE · HOODWINK · MISLEAD
This puzzle by the numbers
- 9 letters
- 6
Counted from our own archive of NYT Strands answers — not published anywhere else.
