I had my coffee balanced beside the laptop when today's Strands clue, "1✖️1, etc ... ", made me pause halfway through a sip. It looks almost too slight to get you started, but there is a useful nudge tucked into that little expression. My first instinct was to rush straight into the grid. Instead, I gave the clue another moment to settle.
That's often the pleasure of this daily puzzle: a tiny prompt can change how you see a whole jumble of letters. If you're staring at today's board and wondering where to begin, I'd suggest keeping the clue in mind without trying to solve everything at once.
This page covers NYT Strands #1125 for Friday, September 25, 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 Friday, September 25, 2026 is "1✖️1, etc ... ". 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 S.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 10.
- The theme words start with these letters: E, F, N, T, T.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| E | 9 letters | Ei... |
| F | 4 letters | Fo... |
| N | 4 letters | Ni... |
| T | 9 letters | Th... |
| T | 10 letters | Tw... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1125 is SQUARENUMBER.
All NYT Strands answers for September 25, 2026
- EIGHTYONE (9 letters)
- FOUR (4 letters)
- NINE (4 letters)
- THIRTYSIX (9 letters)
- TWENTYFIVE (10 letters)
Spangram: SQUARENUMBER. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Think about what the expression in the clue produces, rather than looking for the symbols themselves. On this board, it helps to remember that a familiar idea can occupy quite a long trail when written out in letters. Test promising beginnings slowly, checking every adjacent tile, including diagonals, before abandoning a route. If a path seems to stop, retrace it and try a different turn rather than forcing the spelling. Confirmed words will shrink the search area and make the longer connecting answer easier to spot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Friday, September 25, 2026, puzzle #1125, is SQUARENUMBER. 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 #1125 for Friday, September 25, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
