NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 13, 2026 (#924)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of September 13, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of September 13, 2026? 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, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Top secret
Today’s theme is “Top secret”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 1A gentle clue
The 6 answers belong to one everyday scene. Picture the scene first, then look for its pieces on the board. The spangram runs across the grid, left edge to right, so look for a long sideways path first.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with A, A, C, M, O, P. Two of them start with the same letter (A).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 5, 5, 5, 9 and 10. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
UNDERCOVER
10 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with U, ends with R.
AnswersAll theme words
- MOLE4 letters
- AGENT5 letters
- ASSET5 letters
- PLANT5 letters
- OPERATIVE9 letters
- COUNTERSPY10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.