Working on today’s NYT Strands and need a nudge? Here are the direct answers for Sept. 12, 2025 (#558), plus a few fast hints if you want to solve with minimal spoilers. Testers rated today’s difficulty as moderate, per the official Strands Sidekick.

Today’s theme

That’s classic.

Light hint: stands the test of time.

Spangram

  • TIMEHONORED
  • Orientation: vertical

Tip: Think “a ___ tradition.”

Theme words (non-spangram)

  • VINTAGE
  • ANTIQUE
  • AGELESS
  • ENDURING
  • HISTORIC

Total entries today: six (five theme words plus the spangram).

How Strands works (quick refresher)

  • Connect letters in any direction; paths can turn mid‑word.
  • All letters are used exactly once across the final solution.
  • The spangram captures the theme and spans the grid from one side to the opposite.
  • Every three valid non-theme words you find earn one in‑game hint.

Fast solving tips

  • Block out the spangram first: once placed, it often partitions the grid and exposes clusters for the remaining words.
  • For “That’s classic,” scan for high‑value roots like “ANTI–,” “AGE–,” “HIST–,” and “VINT–.”
  • If a letter cluster looks promising but stalls, try reversing the path; turns are common in Strands.

Play more

  • Jump into today’s puzzle on the Strands page.
  • Browse past puzzles in the official archive.
  • If you like guardrails, the daily Sidekick post for #558 includes difficulty info and optional hint reveals.

Key takeaway: anchor on the vertical spangram TIMEHONORED, then sweep for the timeless descriptors above to clear the board.