Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, September 21, 2026 (Puzzle #932). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "It's back!"
What It Really Means
You are hunting for signature sounds, fabrics, colors, accessories, and outfits from a past decade that has swung back into style.
Think About...
- Alternative music and its deliberately unpolished look.
- Stretchy fabrics and coordinated athletic clothing.
- Loud colors and fabric-covered hair accessories.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Top to bottom down the board
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: Row 2, letter 1
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The spangram labels a revival tied to one memorable decade.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think of the decade after the big-hair era and before the new millennium, then pair it with a word for a fashionable movement.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is N, last letter is D
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NINETIESTREND
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A rough-edged musical style with an intentionally unpolished aesthetic.
Closer: This Seattle-associated rock sound became visually linked with flannel shirts, heavy boots, and distressed denim.
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 6 letters total
Answer
GRUNGE
Word 2
Vague: A stretchy material associated with close-fitting clothing.
Closer: This trademarked name for elastane often appears on labels for form-fitting exercise wear.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 5 letters total
Answer
LYCRA
Word 3
Vague: An intensely bright look that seems to glow.
Closer: This chemical element illuminates signs, while its name also describes fluorescent pinks, greens, and yellows.
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 4 letters total
Answer
NEON
Word 4
Vague: Soft hair accessories made by gathering fabric around elastic.
Closer: These gathered fabric rings secure ponytails while doubling as wrist-worn accessories.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 10 letters total
Answer
SCRUNCHIES
Word 5
Vague: Matching athletic outfits built around a jacket and pants.
Closer: These coordinated warm-up sets combine an athletic jacket with matching pants.
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 10 letters total
Answer
TRACKSUITS
Full Answers
Spangram: NINETIESTREND
Theme Words:
- GRUNGE
- LYCRA
- NEON
- SCRUNCHIES
- TRACKSUITS
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, because NINETIESTREND unifies a deliberately varied list spanning music, fabric, color, hair accessories, and clothing.
Trickiest Word: LYCRA is the trickiest word because it is a trademarked fiber name, while the other answers evoke broader styles, objects, or clothing categories.
Our Take: The NINETIESTREND spangram gives a crisp frame to a lively time capsule. GRUNGE and NEON establish the era's attitude and palette, while LYCRA, SCRUNCHIES, and TRACKSUITS turn that nostalgia into tactile, wearable details.
