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NYT Strands game #553, dated Sunday, September 7, 2025, has the theme “Coming of age.” Work through the clues below before opening the spoiler for the spangram and all six theme words.
Hints for Strands game #553
Use these clues in order if you want help without seeing the full solution:
- The theme points to a religious coming-of-age ceremony.
- Think about the ceremony and the people, places, and traditions connected to it.
- The 10-letter spangram runs from the left edge of the board at row 1 to the right edge at row 5.
Spoiler: the theme and answers
Stop here if you are still solving. The theme is “Coming of age.”
- Spangram: BAR MITZVAH
- Theme words: THIRTEEN, PARTY, RABBI, LCHAIM, TORAH, SYNAGOGUE
The entry is reported as LCHAIM without punctuation in some answer guides; another guide renders it L’CHAIM.
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How Strands hints work
The board is a six-by-eight grid. Words can travel horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and a path can change direction. Every letter belongs to one of the theme words or the spangram. The spangram summarizes the theme and spans at least two sides of the grid.
If you get stuck, find three valid non-theme words of four or more letters. Entering them unlocks an in-game hint that highlights one theme word.
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