NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 17, 2026 (#928)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of September 17, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of September 17, 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 17, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
A little comic relief
Today’s theme is “A little comic relief”. 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.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are B, M, P, P, Z, Z. Several share a starting letter (P, Z).
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 5, 5, 7, 7 and 7 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 7.
SpangramThe spangram
THEFUNNYPAGES
It is a single word of 13 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with T, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- ZITS4 letters
- MUTTS5 letters
- ZIPPY5 letters
- BLONDIE7 letters
- PEANUTS7 letters
- PICKLES7 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.