Strands hints: Sep 16, 2026
Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Sep 16, 2026 (2026-09-16) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.
Puzzle #1116 · 2026-09-16
Step through the Strands hints
Theme clue: Hard not to notice
6 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
Hard not to notice
Layer 2 · Answer lengths and spangram direction
Theme answer lengths: 6, 6, 5, 8, 7, 5 letters.
The spangram has 11 letters. Connects the top and bottom edges.
Layer 3 · Where to start looking
Choose one word without revealing the others.
Theme word 1: show a starting point
Starts with B at row 6, column 5.
Theme word 2: show a starting point
Starts with F at row 2, column 4.
Theme word 3: show a starting point
Starts with J at row 8, column 6.
Theme word 4: show a starting point
Starts with S at row 7, column 2.
Theme word 5: show a starting point
Starts with V at row 4, column 3.
Theme word 6: show a starting point
Starts with V at row 3, column 6.
Layer 4 · Individual theme answers and paths
Theme word 1: reveal answer
BRIGHT
Theme word 1: reveal path
(6, 5) → (5, 5) → (4, 5) → (3, 5) → (4, 6) → (5, 6)
Theme word 2: reveal answer
FLASHY
Theme word 2: reveal path
(2, 4) → (2, 3) → (2, 2) → (1, 2) → (1, 3) → (1, 4)
Theme word 3: reveal answer
JAZZY
Theme word 3: reveal path
(8, 6) → (8, 5) → (7, 6) → (7, 5) → (6, 6)
Theme word 4: reveal answer
STRIKING
Theme word 4: reveal path
(7, 2) → (6, 2) → (5, 2) → (4, 2) → (4, 1) → (5, 1) → (6, 1) → (7, 1)
Theme word 5: reveal answer
VIBRANT
Theme word 5: reveal path
(4, 3) → (5, 3) → (6, 3) → (7, 3) → (8, 3) → (8, 2) → (8, 1)
Theme word 6: reveal answer
VIVID
Theme word 6: reveal path
(3, 6) → (2, 5) → (2, 6) → (1, 5) → (1, 6)
Layer 5 · Spangram help
Show the spangram’s starting point
11 letters. Starts with E at row 1, column 1.
Reveal the spangram
EYECATCHING
Reveal the spangram’s path
(1, 1) → (2, 1) → (3, 1) → (3, 2) → (3, 3) → (3, 4) → (4, 4) → (5, 4) → (6, 4) → (7, 4) → (8, 4)
Layer 6 · Solved grid and all answers
Blue cells = theme words. Gold cells = spangram.
Theme answers: BRIGHT, FLASHY, JAZZY, STRIKING, VIBRANT, VIVID. Spangram: EYECATCHING.
Theme clue
Hard not to notice
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