The NYT Strands puzzle for Sunday, September 6, 2026, features a theme that might leave you feeling underwhelmed. Today’s puzzle, #917, challenges players to find synonyms for “mediocrity” within a 48-letter grid.
Strands Theme and Hints
The theme for today is “I’ve seen better.” This suggests we are looking for words that describe something acceptable but far from extraordinary.
If you are struggling to find the theme words, here are a few progressive hints:
- Broad Hint: Think of words you would use to describe a C-grade movie or a meal that wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great.
- Stronger Hint: Many of these words are used to describe things that meet the bare minimum requirements.
- Spangram Hint: This 14-letter phrase starts on the top row with the letter ‘N’ and winds its way downward. It is a common two-word expression for something that doesn’t stand out.
As a reminder, if you find three words that are at least four letters long but are not part of the theme, the game will highlight one of the theme words for you.
Spoiler Warning: Spangram and Answers
If you are not ready to see the final solutions for puzzle #917, stop reading now. The following section contains all theme words and the spangram.
The Spangram
The spangram for today’s puzzle is NOTHINGSPECIAL. It begins with the ‘N’ on the top row and travels vertically through the grid to describe the general vibe of the word list.
Theme Word Answers
According to Mashable, there are five additional theme words to find in the 6×8 grid:
- OKAY: A four-letter word for “fine.”
- ALRIGHT: Another common way to say something is acceptable.
- AVERAGE: Representing the middle of the pack.
- ADEQUATE: Meaning something is enough, but nothing more.
- MEDIOCRE: A direct synonym for the theme’s focus on low-to-mid quality.
Together with the spangram, these words account for every letter in the grid. While the words themselves describe something plain, finding them all without hints can be quite a challenge.
