NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 9, 2025 (#555)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of September 9, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of September 9, 2025? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for September 9, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
No gray area
Today’s theme is “No gray area”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with D, D, N, O, P, P. Several share a starting letter (D, P).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
BLACKANDWHITE
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with B, ends with E.
AnswersAll theme words
- DICE4 letters
- ORCA4 letters
- PIANO5 letters
- DOMINO6 letters
- PENGUIN7 letters
- NEWSPAPER9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.