September 30’s Strands leans into character. The theme is “For goodness’ sake,” and every entry points to a core principle. If you want to jump straight into the grid, play on the official Strands page at nytimes.com/games/strands.
NYT Strands theme (September 30, 2025)
Today’s board centers on fundamental human values — the social traits that guide behavior and relationships. The spangram ties them all together:
- Spangram: VALUES
Spoiler‑free hints
- Think of words you might hear in school assemblies or on classroom posters.
- Each entry reflects a trait that guides choices and actions.
- These are about how we treat other people, not physical abilities.
- Empathy and respect both belong in this set.
- One word is about working together toward a shared goal.
- Another is tied to truthfulness.
- The spangram is what all of these traits are, collectively.
Full answers (spoilers)
| Theme word | What it signals |
|---|---|
| DISCIPLINE | Structure and self‑control |
| HONESTY | Truthfulness and integrity |
| COOPERATION | Working together |
| EMPATHY | Understanding others’ feelings |
| RESPECT | Treating others with dignity |
| Spangram | VALUES |
How Strands works
- Each daily grid hides words connected by a theme.
- Words can turn corners and run in any direction, including diagonals.
- Every letter is used once across all theme words and the spangram.
- Most puzzles include roughly six to eight theme words.
How built‑in hints work
- Find any non‑theme word of at least four letters to earn a hint.
- Each valid extra word grants one hint.
- Using a hint reveals one theme word’s letters on the board.
Tip: Save hints for when the grid stalls out. One reveal often unlocks several follow‑ups.
Solving tips that help
- Start with the most obvious theme connections you can spot.
- Scan diagonals early; angled paths are common.
- Build around cleared words — the remaining letter shapes often suggest the next answer.
- Earn hints steadily, then deploy them when progress slows.
- Keep synonyms in mind; the theme cue isn’t always literal.
Yesterday’s Strands (September 29, 2025) recap
Theme: “Chew on that!” — gum flavors.
- Answers: BUBBLE, CINNAMON, SPEARMINT, BERRY, WINTERGREEN
- Spangram: GUMFLAVOR
Today’s set is a straightforward reminder of traits that build trust and community. Once the first value falls into place, the rest tend to surface quickly — and the spangram neatly labels the lot.
