I took my first look at today's Strands with a mug of coffee beside me and a slice of toast threatening to go cold. The clue, "A little comic relief", sounded like just the thing for a morning when even finding a matching pair of socks had felt unnecessarily complicated.
Of course, a friendly clue doesn't always mean an instant solve. I found myself considering a couple of meanings before settling on a direction, which is part of the pleasure of this daily puzzle. If you're still staring at the letters, give yourself a moment to think about where you might find a small, regular dose of humour.
This page covers NYT Strands #1117 for Thursday, September 17, 2026. You will find the theme clue, a spoiler free hint, a stronger hint, the spangram and every theme word, in that order. Scroll slowly and stop where you like.
Today's Strands theme
The official clue for Thursday, September 17, 2026 is "A little comic relief". There are 6 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 13 letters and begins with the letter T.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 7.
- The theme words start with these letters: B, M, P, P, Z, Z.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| B | 7 letters | Bl... |
| M | 5 letters | Mu... |
| P | 7 letters | Pe... |
| P | 7 letters | Pi... |
| Z | 5 letters | Zi... |
| Z | 4 letters | Zi... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1117 is THEFUNNYPAGES.
All NYT Strands answers for September 17, 2026
- BLONDIE (7 letters)
- MUTTS (5 letters)
- PEANUTS (7 letters)
- PICKLES (7 letters)
- ZIPPY (5 letters)
- ZITS (4 letters)
Spangram: THEFUNNYPAGES. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Think about the clue as pointing to a particular format of comedy, rather than jokes or laughter in general. Familiar titles may be more useful than descriptive words here, so don't dismiss a promising letter sequence just because it looks like a name. Trace each candidate through neighbouring letters, including diagonals, and remember that paths can bend sharply. Once you've secured a word, inspect the space it leaves behind. For the spangram, look for a broader label linking those titles, with a path connecting opposite edges.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Thursday, September 17, 2026, puzzle #1117, is THEFUNNYPAGES. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 6 theme words today, plus the spangram.
How do you earn hints in Strands?
Find any valid non theme word of at least four letters. Every three of those unlocks one hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word without ordering them for you.
What time does a new Strands puzzle appear?
A new puzzle goes live at midnight in your local time zone, so this page is updated every morning with the new board.
Sources
- NYT Games, Strands puzzle #1117 for Thursday, September 17, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
