I tackled today's Strands with my morning coffee, while a slice of toast cooled beside me. The clue, "Practically paleolithic", made me smile, then sent my thoughts in several directions at once. Was I supposed to be picturing a museum cabinet, or something a friend might say about my temperamental laptop?
That's the pleasure of a clue like this: a little shift in interpretation can make the whole puzzle feel more approachable. I found it helped to pause before hunting through the letters and think about the tone of the phrase. There might be a wink in there, rather than a history lesson.
This page covers NYT Strands #1124 for Wednesday, September 23, 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 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 is "Practically paleolithic". There are 5 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 12 letters and begins with the letter T.
- The shortest theme word has 6 letters, the longest has 8.
- The theme words start with these letters: A, A, B, P, T.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| A | 7 letters | An... |
| A | 7 letters | Ar... |
| B | 6 letters | By... |
| P | 8 letters | Pr... |
| T | 8 letters | Ti... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1124 is THATSOLDNEWS.
All NYT Strands answers for September 23, 2026
- ANCIENT (7 letters)
- ARCHAIC (7 letters)
- BYGONE (6 letters)
- PRIMEVAL (8 letters)
- TIMEWORN (8 letters)
Spangram: THATSOLDNEWS. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Start by asking whether the clue describes a historical period or a quality that lots of different things could share. Build a small mental list of descriptive words, then look for their distinctive letter combinations rather than scanning for any word you recognise. Remember that paths can turn and run diagonally, so a promising beginning needn't continue in a straight line. Once you've secured a word, inspect the pockets of unused letters around it. For the spangram, consider conversational phrasing as well as single terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, puzzle #1124, is THATSOLDNEWS. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 5 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 #1124 for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
