Play Strands #924
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 #924 hints
Today's official theme is "Top secret". 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 that describe people who secretly gather information for a government or organization, plus a couple of terms for someone placed inside a group to watch it.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of an adjective for a person who works in disguise or hidden from view, often used for a certain kind of police officer or spy.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, A, C, M, O, P.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 10 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #924 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #924 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for September 13, 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)
MOLE. It starts in row 7, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
AGENT. It starts in row 3, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
ASSET. It starts in row 5, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
PLANT. It starts in row 1, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (9 letters)
OPERATIVE. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (10 letters)
COUNTERSPY. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
UNDERCOVER. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: UNDERCOVER
Theme words: AGENT, ASSET, COUNTERSPY, MOLE, OPERATIVE, PLANT
The clue 'Top secret' points to the world of espionage, where UNDERCOVER is the spangram describing hidden identities. The theme words AGENT, ASSET, COUNTERSPY, MOLE, OPERATIVE, and PLANT are all names for people who secretly work or are placed inside groups to gather information.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 12 | #923 | Don't obsess |
| Sep 11 | #922 | Harbor view |
| Sep 10 | #921 | Victory lap |
| Sep 9 | #920 | Over and out(side) |
| Sep 8 | #919 | It's elementary! |
| Sep 7 | #918 | It's a deal! |
| Sep 6 | #917 | I've seen better |
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 13
Strands #924 questions
What was the Strands spangram on September 13, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #924 was UNDERCOVER, for the theme "Top secret".
What were the Strands theme words on September 13, 2026?
AGENT, ASSET, COUNTERSPY, MOLE, OPERATIVE, PLANT, plus the spangram UNDERCOVER.
What did the Strands #924 clue mean?
The clue 'Top secret' points to the world of espionage, where UNDERCOVER is the spangram describing hidden identities. The theme words AGENT, ASSET, COUNTERSPY, MOLE, OPERATIVE, and PLANT are all names for people who secretly work or are placed inside groups to gather information.