Strands hints: Sep 15, 2026
Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Sep 15, 2026 (2026-09-15) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.
Puzzle #1115 · 2026-09-15
Step through the Strands hints
Theme clue: If you build it
8 theme words and one spangram. Reveal only the help you need.
Rows run from 1 to 8, top to bottom; columns from 1 to 6, left to right. A path may move to a neighbouring cell, including diagonally.
Layer 1 · Theme clue
If you build it
Layer 2 · Answer lengths and spangram direction
Theme answer lengths: 6, 4, 7, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5 letters.
The spangram has 8 letters. Connects the left and right edges.
Layer 3 · Where to start looking
Choose one word without revealing the others.
Theme word 1: show a starting point
Starts with A at row 8, column 2.
Theme word 2: show a starting point
Starts with B at row 2, column 2.
Theme word 3: show a starting point
Starts with B at row 6, column 3.
Theme word 4: show a starting point
Starts with H at row 4, column 6.
Theme word 5: show a starting point
Starts with J at row 1, column 2.
Theme word 6: show a starting point
Starts with K at row 4, column 5.
Theme word 7: show a starting point
Starts with N at row 3, column 2.
Theme word 8: show a starting point
Starts with S at row 8, column 1.
Layer 4 · Individual theme answers and paths
Theme word 1: reveal answer
ANCHOR
Theme word 1: reveal path
(8, 2) → (8, 3) → (7, 3) → (7, 4) → (8, 4) → (7, 5)
Theme word 2: reveal answer
BOLT
Theme word 2: reveal path
(2, 2) → (3, 1) → (2, 1) → (1, 1)
Theme word 3: reveal answer
BRACKET
Theme word 3: reveal path
(6, 3) → (6, 4) → (6, 5) → (6, 6) → (7, 6) → (8, 6) → (8, 5)
Theme word 4: reveal answer
HINGE
Theme word 4: reveal path
(4, 6) → (3, 6) → (2, 6) → (1, 6) → (1, 5)
Theme word 5: reveal answer
JOIST
Theme word 5: reveal path
(1, 2) → (1, 3) → (1, 4) → (2, 5) → (3, 5)
Theme word 6: reveal answer
KNOB
Theme word 6: reveal path
(4, 5) → (3, 4) → (2, 4) → (2, 3)
Theme word 7: reveal answer
NAIL
Theme word 7: reveal path
(3, 2) → (4, 1) → (4, 2) → (3, 3)
Theme word 8: reveal answer
SCREW
Theme word 8: reveal path
(8, 1) → (7, 2) → (7, 1) → (6, 2) → (6, 1)
Layer 5 · Spangram help
Show the spangram’s starting point
8 letters. Starts with H at row 5, column 1.
Reveal the spangram
HARDWARE
Reveal the spangram’s path
(5, 1) → (5, 2) → (5, 3) → (4, 3) → (4, 4) → (5, 4) → (5, 5) → (5, 6)
Layer 6 · Solved grid and all answers
Blue cells = theme words. Gold cells = spangram.
Theme answers: ANCHOR, BOLT, BRACKET, HINGE, JOIST, KNOB, NAIL, SCREW. Spangram: HARDWARE.
Theme clue
If you build it
Want another date? Browse the Strands archive. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Go back to the main hints page.