Strands hints: Sep 18, 2026
Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Sep 18, 2026 (2026-09-18) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.
Puzzle #1118 · 2026-09-18
Step through the Strands hints
Theme clue: Shake on it
5 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
Shake on it
Layer 2 · Answer lengths and spangram direction
Theme answer lengths: 9, 8, 8, 4, 6 letters.
The spangram has 13 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 A at row 8, column 6.
Theme word 2: show a starting point
Starts with C at row 6, column 2.
Theme word 3: show a starting point
Starts with C at row 3, column 1.
Theme word 4: show a starting point
Starts with P at row 3, column 2.
Theme word 5: show a starting point
Starts with T at row 2, column 5.
Layer 4 · Individual theme answers and paths
Theme word 1: reveal answer
AGREEMENT
Theme word 1: reveal path
(8, 6) → (7, 6) → (8, 5) → (7, 5) → (6, 6) → (5, 6) → (4, 6) → (5, 5) → (6, 5)
Theme word 2: reveal answer
CONTRACT
Theme word 2: reveal path
(6, 2) → (7, 3) → (8, 3) → (7, 2) → (8, 2) → (8, 1) → (7, 1) → (6, 1)
Theme word 3: reveal answer
COVENANT
Theme word 3: reveal path
(3, 1) → (4, 1) → (4, 2) → (5, 1) → (5, 2) → (6, 3) → (5, 3) → (4, 3)
Theme word 4: reveal answer
PACT
Theme word 4: reveal path
(3, 2) → (2, 2) → (2, 1) → (1, 1)
Theme word 5: reveal answer
TREATY
Theme word 5: reveal path
(2, 5) → (1, 6) → (2, 6) → (3, 5) → (3, 6) → (4, 5)
Layer 5 · Spangram help
Show the spangram’s starting point
13 letters. Starts with L at row 1, column 2.
Reveal the spangram
LETSMAKEADEAL
Reveal the spangram’s path
(1, 2) → (1, 3) → (1, 4) → (1, 5) → (2, 4) → (2, 3) → (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: AGREEMENT, CONTRACT, COVENANT, PACT, TREATY. Spangram: LETSMAKEADEAL.
Theme clue
Shake on it
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