The New York Times Strands for Sunday, September 13, 2026, presents puzzle #924 with a theme titled “Top secret.” This session focuses on the vocabulary of international intrigue and espionage, challenging players to identify terms often associated with secret agents and clandestine missions.
Strands Hints for September 13
If you are looking to solve the grid without a direct answer, start by looking for terms associated with professional intelligence work. All words in today’s puzzle relate to individuals or roles within a security organization.
A stronger hint for the grid involves thinking about the different titles given to people who gather information or infiltrate rival groups. These are the various “players” in a spy novel or film.
Spangram Hint
The spangram today is a 10-letter word that describes someone working in a way that hides their true identity or purpose. This word stretches across the board to connect both sides of the grid.
The spangram begins with the letter “U” located in the fourth row of the far-left column.
Spoiler Warning: Strands Answers for #924
The following section contains the solution for today’s puzzle. If you want to keep playing, stop reading now. Below are the verified answers for the September 13 puzzle as listed on The Word Finder.
The spangram for today is UNDERCOVER.
The six remaining theme words are:
- MOLE
- AGENT
- ASSET
- PLANT
- OPERATIVE
- COUNTERSPY
Including the spangram, there are 7 themed words to find in total. If you are struggling to locate specific theme words, remember the game mechanic that rewards you for finding non-theme words. Discovering three valid words of four or more letters—such as “CREDIT,” “TANG,” or “GREY”—will fill your hint meter and reveal the exact letters for one of the hidden theme words.
