Looking for the most recent NYT Strands puzzle answers? CNET publishes daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Strands is like a word find game, but without the list of words to find. Sometimes I see the theme and begin recognizing the answers right away. But for those times when I can’t seem to manage this, there’s a loophole: Strands lets you make as many words of four or more letters as you want. For every three of those words you find, the puzzle will highlight one of the answers. You’re still going to have to unscramble that answer, though, which can be very tough.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
Today’s puzzle has a fun category, with some lively words. They’re pretty easy to unscramble once you pick up on the theme. Read on for hints and all the answers.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Hard not to notice.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Showy or glitzy.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- CASE, CHIN, STIR, SHACK, HACK, LACK, LACE, LACY, TRICK, RICE
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the “spangram,” a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight, but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- JAZZY, VIVID, BRIGHT, FLASHY, VIBRANT, STRIKING
Today’s Strands spangram
The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Sept. 16, 2026.NYT/Screenshot by CNET
Today’s Strands spangram is EYECATCHING. To find it, start with the E that’s the first letter on the top row, and wind down, over, and then down again.
Quick tips for Strands
#1: To get more clue words, see if you can tweak the words you’ve already found, by adding an “S” or other variants. And if you find a word like WILL, see if other letters are close enough to help you make SILL, or BILL.
#2: Once you get one theme word, look at the puzzle to see if you can spot other related words.
#3: If you’ve been given the letters for a theme word, but can’t figure it out, guess three more clue words, and the puzzle will light up each letter in order, revealing the word.
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