Play Strands #926
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 #926 hints
Today's official theme is "If you build it". 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 small metal pieces and fittings that builders use to hold wood and other materials together or to let a door swing.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 8 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of the kind of store where you would find all of these items, or the general name for metal tools and fasteners sold there.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, B, B, H, J, K, N, S.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 8 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #926 in numbers
- Theme words
- 8
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 8 letters
- Longest theme word
- 7 letters
Strands #926 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for September 15, 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)
BOLT. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
KNOB. It starts in row 4, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (4 letters)
NAIL. It starts in row 3, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
HINGE. It starts in row 4, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (5 letters)
JOIST. It starts in row 1, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (5 letters)
SCREW. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 7 (6 letters)
ANCHOR. It starts in row 8, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 8 (7 letters)
BRACKET. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
The spangram (8 letters)
HARDWARE. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: HARDWARE
Theme words: ANCHOR, BOLT, BRACKET, HINGE, JOIST, KNOB, NAIL, SCREW
The clue 'If you build it' points to construction projects, and each theme word is a fastener or fitting you would use to put something together, like a NAIL, SCREW, BOLT, or HINGE. The spangram HARDWARE is the broad category covering all of them, including structural parts like a JOIST, BRACKET, and ANCHOR, plus a door KNOB.
What does JOIST mean?
A horizontal beam, usually timber or steel, that runs parallel with others to support a floor or ceiling. Joists span the gaps between walls or larger beams, so they fit the building and hardware theme.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 14 | #925 | OH MY GOSH!! |
| Sep 13 | #924 | Top secret |
| 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! |
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 15
Strands #926 questions
What was the Strands spangram on September 15, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #926 was HARDWARE, for the theme "If you build it".
What were the Strands theme words on September 15, 2026?
ANCHOR, BOLT, BRACKET, HINGE, JOIST, KNOB, NAIL, SCREW, plus the spangram HARDWARE.
What did the Strands #926 clue mean?
The clue 'If you build it' points to construction projects, and each theme word is a fastener or fitting you would use to put something together, like a NAIL, SCREW, BOLT, or HINGE. The spangram HARDWARE is the broad category covering all of them, including structural parts like a JOIST, BRACKET, and ANCHOR, plus a door KNOB.