NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 13, 2025 (#559)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of September 13, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of September 13, 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 13, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Better than good
Today’s theme is “Better than good”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are A, A, E, L, M, P. Two of them start with the same letter (A).
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 and 12 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 12.
SpangramThe spangram
THEYREGREAT
It is a single word of 11 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with T, ends with T.
AnswersAll theme words
- APES4 letters
- AUNTS5 letters
- LAKES5 letters
- MINDS5 letters
- PLAINS6 letters
- EXPECTATIONS12 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.