NEW YORK, July 22 -- Today's NYT Strands puzzle (#871, July 22, 2026) has a theme of "What is." - and if that phrase rings a bell, you're already halfway there. The spangram and all six strand words are solved below, with hints above the reveal.

The theme phrase lands as a Jeopardy! reference, and once it clicks, the strand words are close behind. The spangram is the one that crosses the entire board, and in today's puzzle it doubles as the premise of the whole game show.

NYT Strands Hints for July 22, 2026 (Puzzle #871)

Hint 1: The theme is a game show phrase - contestants speak it before every answer they give.

Hint 2: The spangram is what happens when something is at risk.

Hint 3: Think about the physical and conceptual elements o...