Play Strands #917
The same letter grid NYT shows. Drag across touching letters, or tap them one by one and tap the last letter again to check. Theme words turn blue and the spangram turns yellow. Hint outlines one word you haven't found. Nothing is saved, so your real game stays untouched.
Strands #917 hints
Today's official theme is "I've seen better". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for words you might use to describe something that is fine but not impressive, neither great nor terrible.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a phrase you'd use with a shrug when asked about a movie or meal that was neither good nor bad, and it spans the whole board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, A, A, M, O.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 14 letters and runs from top to bottom.
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Strands #917 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 14 letters
- Longest theme word
- 8 letters
Strands #917 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for September 6, 2026.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (4 letters)
OKAY. It starts in row 7, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (7 letters)
ALRIGHT. It starts in row 7, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
AVERAGE. It starts in row 5, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
ADEQUATE. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters)
MEDIOCRE. It starts in row 3, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (14 letters)
NOTHINGSPECIAL. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: NOTHINGSPECIAL
Theme words: ADEQUATE, ALRIGHT, AVERAGE, MEDIOCRE, OKAY
When you say you've seen better, you mean something was just passable, and every answer describes that middling quality. ADEQUATE, ALRIGHT, AVERAGE, MEDIOCRE and OKAY are all ways to say so-so, and NOTHINGSPECIAL sums up the whole idea.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | #916 | Informally known as |
| Sep 4 | #915 | To the rescue |
| Sep 3 | #914 | Hike! |
| Sep 2 | #913 | All will be revealed |
| Sep 1 | #912 | Called by your calling |
| Aug 31 | #911 | With a little elbow grease |
| Aug 30 | #910 | Hardly eager |
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Sep 6
Strands #917 questions
What was the Strands spangram on September 6, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #917 was NOTHINGSPECIAL, for the theme "I've seen better".
What were the Strands theme words on September 6, 2026?
ADEQUATE, ALRIGHT, AVERAGE, MEDIOCRE, OKAY, plus the spangram NOTHINGSPECIAL.
What did the Strands #917 clue mean?
When you say you've seen better, you mean something was just passable, and every answer describes that middling quality. ADEQUATE, ALRIGHT, AVERAGE, MEDIOCRE and OKAY are all ways to say so-so, and NOTHINGSPECIAL sums up the whole idea.