The NYT Strands puzzle for September 15, 2026, presents a theme titled “If you build it.” This puzzle, numbered 926, focuses on items you might find in a workshop or a home improvement project. The grid contains 48 letters forming nine distinct words, including the category-defining spangram.
Strands Hints for September 15
If the theme “If you build it” is a bit too broad, here are progressive hints to help you narrow down the search without spoiling the specific answers immediately.
Broad Hint: Look for small, metal components used to hold things together or finish a building project. Think about what you would find organized in small plastic bins in a garage.
Stronger Hint: The in-game hint clue “Workbench” suggests these are the essential fasteners and fixtures used in construction and carpentry. You are looking for things like pins, fasteners, and support beams.
Spangram Hint: This word describes the category of these items as a whole. It is an eight-letter word that refers to the tools and materials used in building, often found in a specialized store of the same name. According to TechRadar, this spangram spans across the grid to connect two sides.
Spoiler Warning: Strands Answers Below
If you are ready to see the solutions for puzzle #926, the following section contains all theme words and the spangram.
The spangram for today is HARDWARE.
The eight non-spangram theme words are:
- BOLT
- KNOB
- NAIL
- HINGE
- JOIST
- SCREW
- BRACKET
- ANCHOR
These words represent various fasteners (nail, screw, bolt), structural supports (joist, bracket, anchor), and moving parts (hinge, knob) required for construction tasks. The letters are distributed across the 6×8 grid, utilizing every available tile to complete the puzzle.
