NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 20, 2025 (#566)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of September 20, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of September 20, 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 20, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Dire straits
Start from the clue “Dire straits”. Once you see what the 6 theme words have in common, the grid opens up quickly.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with D, M, M, P, P, Q. Several share a starting letter (M, P).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 6, 6, 7, 8 and 11. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 11.
SpangramThe spangram
INAFIX
6 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with I, ends with X.
AnswersAll theme words
- MESS4 letters
- MUDDLE6 letters
- PICKLE6 letters
- DILEMMA7 letters
- QUANDARY8 letters
- PREDICAMENT11 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.