NYT Strands puzzle number 927 for 16 September brings a lively theme with words that are relatively straightforward to unscramble once you spot the connection. If you find yourself stuck partway through, there are hints and full answers below to help you complete the grid.
Strands works rather like a word-search game, but without a list of words to hunt for. Sometimes the theme becomes clear straight away and the answers start to reveal themselves. When that does not happen, there is a useful fallback: Strands lets you make as many words of four or more letters as you like. For every three such words you find, the puzzle highlights one of the theme answers. You will still need to unscramble that answer, however, which can prove tricky.
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Hard not to notice.
If that does not point you in the right direction, here is a further clue: showy or glitzy.
Your aim is to find hidden words that fit the theme. If you are stuck, find any words you can. Each time you locate three words of four letters or more, Strands reveals one of the theme words. The following words work well for unlocking those in-game hints, though any qualifying words will do: CASE, CHIN, STIR, SHACK, HACK, LACK, LACE, LACY, TRICK and RICE.
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that stretches from one side of the grid to the other. Once every answer is found, each letter on the board will have been used. The number of answers can vary from puzzle to puzzle.
The non-spangram answers are: JAZZY, VIVID, BRIGHT, FLASHY, VIBRANT and STRIKING.
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is EYECATCHING. To find it, start with the E that is the first letter on the top row, then wind down, across and down again to complete the word.
Strands is one of a series of daily word games published by The New York Times, alongside the Mini Crossword, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition.
