The NYT Strands clue for September 6, 2026, is “I’ve seen better.” Need a nudge before the reveal? The theme words begin with AD, AL, AV, ME and OK; the spangram is 14 letters, starts with N and ends with L. The full answers are below.
Hints for September 6
- Theme clue: “I’ve seen better.”
- Theme-word initials: AD, AL, AV, ME and OK.
- Spangram hint: It has 14 letters, begins with N and ends with L.
Strands lets players connect letters to find theme words. As Parade reproduces the New York Times instructions, the spangram describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board; it may contain two words. PuzzleHints reports that adjacent letters can connect in any direction, including diagonally. Players earn a hint by finding three non-theme words, according to these guides. (Parade; PuzzleHints)
September 6 Strands answers
Spangram: NOTHINGSPECIAL
Theme words: ADEQUATE, ALRIGHT, AVERAGE, MEDIOCRE and OKAY.
The entries capture different shades of faint praise. ALRIGHT and OKAY are mild approval; AVERAGE sits in the middle; ADEQUATE suggests something is good enough; and MEDIOCRE is more plainly critical. Together, they fit the clue “I’ve seen better,” while NOTHING SPECIAL sums up the lukewarm theme. The spangram is the whole phrase, not two separate theme answers, NOTHING and SPECIAL. (PuzzleHints; Anagrammer)
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
About the puzzle number
Guides disagree on the puzzle number: Parade and PuzzleHints call this board #917, while Anagrammer labels it #1104. Without confirmation from an official New York Times archive, the number is unresolved; the date is the clearest way to identify this puzzle. (Parade; PuzzleHints; Anagrammer)
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
