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August 30, 2026 
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In his print introduction for this puzzle, Will Shortz wrote: “Daniel Grinberg is a user experience researcher for a consulting company in Philadelphia. He says, ‘The genesis of this puzzle came to me when I saw Ariana Grande’s name and I thought to myself — André Gide adaptation?’ (You’ll understand why when you solve the puzzle.) I don’t know how Danny found the eight elegant examples of his theme. But maybe I don’t really want to. It’s nice sometimes just to sit back and be amazed.” For more insight into this puzzle, read the Wordplay column.
Puzzles You May Have Missed
Crossplay Tip
Limit opponent’s extra turn advantage: If you cannot empty the bag but expect that, after your turn — no matter what play you make — your opponent will be able to empty the bag, it is often good practice to leave as few tiles in the bag as possible. When doing so, while your opponent successfully earns the final turn of the game, they get access to fewer total tiles than they would have if you had made a shorter play. As a result, even though the opponent nets an extra turn in the game, the firepower of that turn may be dampened because having fewer tiles shrinks the set of possible plays.
Connections Quandary
Here’s the hardest category from Monday, Aug. 24. What connects these four things? See the answer in the P.S.
Strands
Last week’s hardest Strands puzzle was SPIRALING DEFINITIONS, from Thursday, Aug. 27 — 80.37 percent of solvers were able to complete it.
Last week’s easiest Strands puzzle was ENJOYING NATURE, from Tuesday, Aug. 25 — 91.69 percent of solvers were able to complete it.
Strands puzzles last week — from Aug. 21 to 27 — were a bit easier than those from the week before.
Wordle Weekly Recap
Hardest word: CLICK, from Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Average guesses: 4.31, with 18.12 percent of players solving in three or fewer.
Easiest word: TRACE, from Friday, Aug. 21.
Average guesses: 3.59, with 49.32 percent of players solving in three or fewer.
The Wordle answers last week — from Aug. 21 to 27 — were roughly equal in difficulty compared with those from the week before.
Spelling Bee Hive
Overall, the Spelling Bee hives last week — from Aug. 21 to 27 — were a little easier than those from the week before. Of our subscribers who played last week, 46.33 percent hit Genius at least once.
Last week’s hardest puzzle: Sunday, Aug. 23 had the hardest pangram, with only 32.94 percent of users finding it.
Sunday’s pangram: BITUMEN
Letter set: M B E I N T U
Relax With Us
Lately I’ve been longing to do more with my hands than just hold my phone. I made plans to exchange bracelets with a close friend, and a childhood memory resurfaced. How have I let so many years go by without making a friendship bracelet? If I tried my hand at making one now, my muscle memory would probably take over. (I’m about to try.) Like any handmade gift, a friendship bracelet is a sincere token of appreciation. It shows effort, attention and intention, qualities that are all too rare in today’s consumerist, digital world.
As I think about how to make a gift my friend will treasure, I remember spending hours making crafts as a child and teenager. I remember tying an assortment of embroidery threads to a water bottle or a table. I would braid simple bracelets for my friends. The process of repeatedly tying the same knots was meditative. I remember choosing specific colors depending on whom the bracelet was for. And it wasn’t just thread I was using. I remember beads scattered across the living room carpet and afternoons lost in deep concentration. There’s something so satisfying about the tactile nature of craft and how it can seem to warp the very essence of time.
How are we doing?
We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to crosswordeditors@nytimes.com.
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P.S. The answer to the Connections Quandary is that they are all letter homophones with a tennis term.
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