New Delhi, July 13 -- The answer to NYT Strands puzzle #862 for Monday, July 13, 2026, is HITSTHESPOT - the spangram for today's theme, "Just what I needed."

If you want to solve it yourself first, scroll past the hints section below before the full solution is revealed.

Today's Strands theme: "Just what I needed"

Hints for NYT Strands #862 (July 13, 2026)

Hint 1: Today's theme phrase is a compound idiom - think of a saying that describes something hitting the mark perfectly.

Hint 2: All four theme words are adjectives describing a pleasing or satisfying experience. They are closely related in meaning, which makes the grouping tricky.

Hint 3: The spangram is a compound word formed from three common words - a verb, a definite article...