NYT Strands Today: Hints & Answers for September 26, 2025

NYT Standard puzzle game

NYT Standard puzzle game

Stuck on the NYT Strands Today puzzle? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, you’ll find the full answers for September 26, 2025, along with helpful hints and explanations to make solving the puzzle easier and keep your streak alive.

What Is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a new word puzzle from The New York Times Games collection, offering a fresh challenge for fans of Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections.

In this game, players connect letters in a 6x8 grid to find theme-based words and a special “Spangram” that stretches across the grid, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

The daily theme acts as your biggest clue, helping you uncover multiple words related to the topic, plus the long Spangram that ties the whole puzzle together!

NYT Strands Today’s theme (September 26, 2025)

Here is the NYT Strands Today theme puzzle for September 26;

  • Theme:  As old as time

Today's theme hints at a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock, often housed in an ornate wooden case.

NYT Strands Today: hints for September 26, 2025

Need a little nudge without seeing the full answers? Here are hints for today's Strands puzzle:

  • Hint 1: A toothed wheel or parts that fit together to transmit motion and power in machines, helping control speed, direction, or force.
  • Hint 2: Objects used for measuring mass or for strength training and exercise.

Spangram Hint:

  • The Spangram runs vertically across the grid.
  • It starts with "GR."

NYT Strands Today: answers for September 26, 2025

🛑 Spoiler Alert! 🛑

Scroll down only if you’re ready for the full solutions.

Today’s Spangram

  • GRANDFATHER CLOCK

Today’s theme words

  • GEARS
  • WEIGHTS
  • CHIMES
  • WINDER
  • PENDULUM

Today's Spangram and theme words reflect the spirit of making mistakes, which is perfect for the "As old as time" theme!

NYT Strands hints and answer puzzle
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Credit: NYT Games (Screenshot by Gfinity)
NYT Strands hints and answer

Today's Spangraam is a bit tricky. Here's how I got the answer. The hints GEARS, WEIGHTS, and CHIMES are all related to a device used in timekeeping. I was thinking about a watch or a clock, but a watch is not in the hints, while I saw the clock, then I started thinking about terms that can cover them all.

I scanned the board and saw 'GRANDFATHER,' so I tried tracing it and continued to the word 'CLOCK.' G-R-A-N-D-F-A-T-H-E-R C-L-O-C-K, and voilà, it was indeed the answer. So the hints made sense as features of a traditional long-case clock.

How does the NYT Strands Spangram work?

The Spangram is a unique feature of Strands puzzles, it’s a single word or phrase that connects two sides of the grid, encapsulating the day's theme. Finding the Spangram early often makes solving the rest of the puzzle much easier.

Tips for solving NYT Strands puzzles

If you're serious about mastering Strands, keep these tips in mind:

  • Start from the corners: Theme words usually begin or end here.
  • Use in-game hints wisely: Unlock hints if you're stuck — it's better than guessing randomly!
  • Think outside the box: Sometimes, the connection to the theme might be more playful or metaphorical.
  • Focus on the Spangram: Cracking the Spangram gives you the biggest advantage.

Stay updated for NYT Strands today and beyond

Bookmark this page for daily NYT Strands Today hints and answers. We update right after the puzzle goes live, so you’ll never miss a solution!

Looking for more puzzle help? Check out the following guides below to help you out!

And that ends our NYT Strands today! Enjoy and keep your winning streak!