Play Strands #936
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 #936 hints
Today's official theme is "1✖️1, etc ...". 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 spelled-out numbers that you get when you multiply a whole number by itself, like the results of 2 times 2 or 6 times 6.
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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
The spangram names the kind of number that all the other answers belong to, so think about what you call the result of multiplying a whole number by itself, and then add a word for any numeral.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: E, F, N, T, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 12 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #936 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 12 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #936 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for September 25, 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)
FOUR. It starts in row 1, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters)
NINE. It starts in row 1, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (9 letters)
EIGHTYONE. It starts in row 8, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (9 letters)
THIRTYSIX. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (10 letters)
TWENTYFIVE. It starts in row 1, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (12 letters)
SQUARENUMBER. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: SQUARENUMBER
Theme words: EIGHTYONE, FOUR, NINE, THIRTYSIX, TWENTYFIVE
The clue 1✖️1, etc. hints at multiplying a number by itself, which gives perfect squares. FOUR, NINE, TWENTYFIVE, THIRTYSIX, and EIGHTYONE are all squares (2x2, 3x3, 5x5, 6x6, 9x9), and SQUARENUMBER ties them together.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | #935 | Just outside your door |
| Sep 23 | #934 | Practically paleolithic |
| Sep 22 | #933 | Day and night shift |
| Sep 21 | #932 | It's back! |
| Sep 20 | #931 | Putting on airs |
| Sep 19 | #930 | Shiver me timbers! |
| Sep 18 | #929 | Shake on it |
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 25
Strands #936 questions
What was the Strands spangram on September 25, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #936 was SQUARENUMBER, for the theme "1✖️1, etc ...".
What were the Strands theme words on September 25, 2026?
EIGHTYONE, FOUR, NINE, THIRTYSIX, TWENTYFIVE, plus the spangram SQUARENUMBER.
What did the Strands #936 clue mean?
The clue 1✖️1, etc. hints at multiplying a number by itself, which gives perfect squares. FOUR, NINE, TWENTYFIVE, THIRTYSIX, and EIGHTYONE are all squares (2x2, 3x3, 5x5, 6x6, 9x9), and SQUARENUMBER ties them together.