I took my first look at today's Strands while waiting for my coffee to cool, which is usually just enough time to develop a theory and become far too attached to it. The clue, "Just outside your door", sent me mentally wandering down the street before I wondered whether I ought to stay a little closer to home.
There's a lovely everyday feel to this one, although that doesn't necessarily make the letter grid easy to untangle. My advice is to give the clue a moment to settle rather than chase your first association. Sometimes a second sip and a fresh look do more than determined staring.
This page covers NYT Strands #1122 for Thursday, September 24, 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 24, 2026 is "Just outside your door". 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 8 letters and begins with the letter B.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 10.
- The theme words start with these letters: F, P, S, S, T, T.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| F | 4 letters | Fo... |
| P | 4 letters | Po... |
| S | 7 letters | Sa... |
| S | 6 letters | Sw... |
| T | 10 letters | Tr... |
| T | 9 letters | Tr... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1122 is BACKYARD.
All NYT Strands answers for September 24, 2026
- FORT (4 letters)
- POOL (4 letters)
- SANDBOX (7 letters)
- SWINGS (6 letters)
- TRAMPOLINE (10 letters)
- TREEHOUSE (9 letters)
Spangram: BACKYARD. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Start by thinking about what you might find in a private outdoor space, rather than naming everything you could see from the doorstep. Scan for familiar letter combinations, then follow them through neighbouring squares, including diagonals. Longer words can bend back on themselves, so don't abandon a promising start just because it stops running straight. Once you've found a theme word, use its occupied squares to narrow the remaining routes. Keep an eye out for a broader connecting idea that could stretch between opposite edges, but let confirmed finds guide you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Thursday, September 24, 2026, puzzle #1122, is BACKYARD. 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 #1122 for Thursday, September 24, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Tracy Bennett.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
