Strands hints: Sep 23, 2026
Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Sep 23, 2026 (2026-09-23) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.
Puzzle #1124 · 2026-09-23
Step through the Strands hints
Theme clue: Practically paleolithic
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
Practically paleolithic
Layer 2 · Answer lengths and spangram direction
Theme answer lengths: 7, 7, 6, 8, 8 letters.
The spangram has 12 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 2, column 2.
Theme word 2: show a starting point
Starts with A at row 1, column 6.
Theme word 3: show a starting point
Starts with B at row 4, column 4.
Theme word 4: show a starting point
Starts with P at row 6, column 3.
Theme word 5: show a starting point
Starts with T at row 7, column 4.
Layer 4 · Individual theme answers and paths
Theme word 1: reveal answer
ANCIENT
Theme word 1: reveal path
(2, 2) → (1, 2) → (2, 3) → (1, 3) → (2, 4) → (1, 4) → (1, 5)
Theme word 2: reveal answer
ARCHAIC
Theme word 2: reveal path
(1, 6) → (2, 6) → (2, 5) → (3, 5) → (3, 6) → (4, 6) → (4, 5)
Theme word 3: reveal answer
BYGONE
Theme word 3: reveal path
(4, 4) → (3, 4) → (3, 3) → (3, 2) → (4, 2) → (4, 3)
Theme word 4: reveal answer
PRIMEVAL
Theme word 4: reveal path
(6, 3) → (6, 2) → (6, 1) → (7, 1) → (8, 1) → (8, 2) → (7, 2) → (7, 3)
Theme word 5: reveal answer
TIMEWORN
Theme word 5: reveal path
(7, 4) → (8, 3) → (8, 4) → (8, 5) → (7, 5) → (6, 6) → (7, 6) → (8, 6)
Layer 5 · Spangram help
Show the spangram’s starting point
12 letters. Starts with T at row 1, column 1.
Reveal the spangram
THATSOLDNEWS
Reveal the spangram’s path
(1, 1) → (2, 1) → (3, 1) → (4, 1) → (5, 1) → (5, 2) → (5, 3) → (5, 4) → (6, 4) → (6, 5) → (5, 5) → (5, 6)
Layer 6 · Solved grid and all answers
Blue cells = theme words. Gold cells = spangram.
Theme answers: ANCIENT, ARCHAIC, BYGONE, PRIMEVAL, TIMEWORN. Spangram: THATSOLDNEWS.
Theme clue
Practically paleolithic
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