NYT Strands puzzle #558 for Friday, September 12, 2025, has the theme “That’s classic.” Need a nudge before the solutions? Start with the hints below; the full answer list is behind a spoiler warning.
Hints for Strands #558
The published theme is “That’s classic.” A gentler clue is “stands the test of time,” as All Things How describes it. Think of words for things that last, are old, or carry historical significance.
In-game hint words
TechRadar lists these six words as ways to unlock the game’s hints: STONE, SLEET, CHESS, QUEEN, ROSE, and RIDER. They are not theme answers. According to TechRadar, entering any of these can help reveal an in-game clue.
How Strands hints work
Strands is a word-search-style puzzle in which letter paths can turn. All Things How reports that finding three valid words that are not theme answers earns an in-game hint. The spangram expresses the theme and connects opposite sides of the grid.
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The spangram has 11 letters when its space is omitted. It names something preserved or respected over time. All Things How describes its path as vertical; TechRadar reports that it runs from the bottom of the board at column six to the top at column three. These are the guides’ descriptions of the board layout.
Spoilers: the full Strands answers
Warning: the spangram and all theme answers are below.
Rank #2
Spangram
TIME HONORED (also written TIMEHONORED)
Theme answers
- VINTAGE
- AGELESS
- ANTIQUE
- HISTORIC
- ENDURING
Was September 12’s puzzle hard?
The published guides disagree on difficulty. TechRadar calls the puzzle hard and says its author earned a perfect score. All Things How relays a moderate rating from official Strands Sidekick testers. These are attributed assessments, not a single settled difficulty rating.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why “today” can mean different dates
This is a historical puzzle dated September 12, 2025, rather than a current daily answer. TechRadar reports that Strands appears at midnight in each time zone, so the date shown as “today” can vary by location.
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