If you’re solving today’s Strands, you can open the puzzle on the New York Times Games site at nytimes.com/games/strands. Strands #570 (Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025) is rated moderate by NYT playtesters and releases at midnight in your local time zone.

Strands #570 overview

• Theme title: Lip service
• Spangram length: 11 letters
• Tester-rated difficulty: Moderate (per NYT’s Sidekick post)
• Spangram path: touches the top edge in column 4 and the bottom edge in column 4

Spoiler-safe hints for today’s grid

Want a nudge without giving everything away?

  • Theme steer: Think facial expressions made with the mouth.
  • Initials of several answers: SM, SN, FR, SM, PO, GA, SC, GR.
  • To unlock in-game hints, enter any of these valid non-theme words: LINER, RISE, WORSE, CORE, SONG, RINK.
  • The spangram is 11 letters and begins on the top edge and ends on the bottom edge in the same column (column 4).

Full answers for Strands #570 (spoilers)

Type Word Length Brief description
Spangram EXPRESSIONS 11 What all the theme words represent
Theme word SMILE 5 A pleased or friendly look with the mouth
Theme word SNEER 5 A contemptuous or mocking expression
Theme word FROWN 5 Downturned mouth showing displeasure
Theme word SMIRK 5 A smug or self-satisfied smile
Theme word POUT 4 Protruded lips signaling annoyance or sulking
Theme word GAPE 4 Mouth open wide, often in surprise
Theme word SCOWL 5 A hostile or angry expression
Theme word GRIN 4 A broad smile

Why “Lip service” fits

Every blue theme entry is a type of mouth-driven facial expression that conveys emotion without words, and the yellow spangram, EXPRESSIONS, captures the common thread between them.

Quick reference — puzzle facts

Date Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025
Game number #570
Theme Lip service
Spangram EXPRESSIONS (11 letters)
Spangram edges Top edge → bottom edge (column 4)
Difficulty Moderate (NYT playtester rating)
Grid size 6×8

How Strands works (brief)

Strands is played on a 6×8 letter grid. Your goal is to find all theme-related words plus a single spangram that describes the set. Theme words turn blue; the spangram turns yellow and must connect two opposite edges (side-to-side or top-to-bottom). All letters on the board are used by the end. You can submit any valid non-theme word of four or more letters; every three such finds unlocks one in-game hint.

If you plan to solve first before reviewing solutions, open today’s grid on the New York Times Games site and return to the hints above as needed.