Spoilers ahead. The September 11, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle was game #557, with the theme “Take a break” and the spangram ME TIME. If you want to solve it yourself, use the hints below before opening the answer list. The puzzle is historical; “today” can refer to a different date depending on when a reader looks it up and their time zone.
Progressive hints for Strands #557
Start with the theme
The theme is “Take a break.” Think of activities someone might choose to do alone during time off.
Use the hint system
In Strands, selecting three valid non-theme words of at least four letters can unlock an in-game hint. TechRadar gives these optional clue words for this board: TOWER, TRAP, CHASE, THESE, STREET and MICE. They are nudges to help trigger hints, not puzzle answers. TechRadar’s dated guide lists the clues.
Spangram clue
The six-letter spangram is two words describing a stretch of personal time. It runs from the left side of the board to the right side across the third row, according to TechRadar.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Full answers for September 11, 2025
Stop here if you do not want the solution.
The spangram is ME TIME (also written METIME in archives). The archive-supported theme-word list is:
- EXERCISE
- JOURNAL
- MEDITATE
- PAINT
- READ
- UNPLUG
- WALK
The StrandsSolution archive, Forbes and Mashable’s guide published via Yahoo Tech agree on this set. The theme words describe solo break activities in the puzzle; they are not health advice.
Why some answer lists differ
Not all dated guides publish the same words. TechRadar, Try Hard Guides and Parade list EXERCISE, MEDITATE, PAINT, READ, REST, SHOWER and STRETCH instead of JOURNAL, UNPLUG and WALK. Both sets are associated with the same theme and spangram. The available sources do not include an accessible official NYT answer record that settles the discrepancy, so the lists should not be combined or presented as definitively reconciled.
- TechRadar’s September 11 guide and Try Hard Guides give the alternate set.
- Parade’s dated guide gives the same alternate set.
How Strands works
Strands is a word-search-style puzzle. Connected letters can be selected in any direction, including diagonally, without reusing or crossing letters. Theme words are highlighted when found. The spangram summarizes the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Try Hard Guides’ puzzle guide describes these mechanics.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
