I had barely taken a sip of my morning coffee before today's Strands clue, "Putting on airs", sent me down a couple of competing paths. Was I looking for something theatrical, something musical, or a familiar bit of human behaviour? It's the sort of clue that makes me pause with my mug halfway to my mouth, wondering which meaning to try first.
My advice for this one is to keep that first interpretation lightly held. I find these puzzles much friendlier once I stop trying to make every promising letter fit my opening idea. Let a small discovery change your mind, and give yourself permission to start again.
This page covers NYT Strands #1120 for Sunday, September 20, 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 Sunday, September 20, 2026 is "Putting on airs". There are 7 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 11 letters and begins with the letter G.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 7.
- The theme words start with these letters: B, B, B, F, G, P, S.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| B | 7 letters | Bl... |
| B | 5 letters | Bo... |
| B | 4 letters | Br... |
| F | 4 letters | Fl... |
| G | 5 letters | Gl... |
| P | 7 letters | Po... |
| S | 5 letters | St... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1120 is GRANDIOSITY.
All NYT Strands answers for September 20, 2026
- BLUSTER (7 letters)
- BOAST (5 letters)
- BRAG (4 letters)
- FLEX (4 letters)
- GLOAT (5 letters)
- POSTURE (7 letters)
- STRUT (5 letters)
Spangram: GRANDIOSITY. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Try reading the clue as an expression rather than taking each word literally, then think about the kinds of behaviour it might describe. Look for compact words first, checking diagonal neighbours as well as horizontal and vertical ones. Before submitting a promising find, trace its whole route and make sure you haven't reused a letter. Once something is confirmed, use those occupied squares to narrow your next search. Save the longer connecting answer for when the shared idea becomes clearer, rather than forcing an early guess across the board.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Sunday, September 20, 2026, puzzle #1120, is GRANDIOSITY. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 7 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 #1120 for Sunday, September 20, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Tracy Bennett.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
