NYT Strands #933 answer & hints: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Updated: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). · Puzzle editor: Tracy Bennett.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Strands puzzle #933 of Tuesday, September 22, 2026: 2 spoiler-free hint tiers that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

Today's Strands theme got you stuck? Start with the theme explainer, then reveal first letters, the spangram, and finally the full solution.

Strands is a themed word search: find the theme words hidden in the letter grid, plus the spangram — a special answer that touches two opposite sides of the board and names the theme. Every letter gets used exactly once.

Strands hints (September 22, 2026)

1Understanding the theme

The official clue is “Day and night shift”. There are 4 theme words plus the spangram.

2First letters of the theme words

C, P, S, T

Strands answers — September 22, 2026 (#933)

★The spangram

FALLEQUINOX (11 letters).

★All of today's Strands answers

Spangram: FALLEQUINOX
Theme words: CHANGEOVER, PROGRESSION, SWITCH, TRANSITION

The puzzle, explained

"Fall Equinox" is the perfect spangram because it literally represents that moment when day and night are equal—the ultimate shift from one state to another. The theme words all describe different types of changes: SWITCH and CHANGEOVER are the direct, immediate synonyms, PROGRESSION shows how change unfolds over time, and TRANSITION captures that in-between moment. PROGRESSION is probably the sneakiest one here since it's less about flipping a switch and more about the gradual journey, but it still nails the idea of moving from one condition to the next. Pretty neat how the puzzle uses the equinox—when light and dark are literally balanced—to frame all these different ways things can shift and transform.

Next in today's routine: Spelling Bee → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Strands on the official site.

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Strands — common questions

What is a spangram in Strands?

The spangram is the special theme word or phrase that touches two opposite sides of the board. It describes the puzzle's theme and always exists in every Strands puzzle.

How do I earn hints in Strands itself?

Finding three non-theme words in the grid earns one in-game hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word.

Can theme words overlap in Strands?

No — every letter in the grid is used exactly once across the theme words and spangram, which is a powerful deduction tool late in the puzzle.

Previous Strands puzzles

Full Strands archive (137 puzzles) → · How to play Strands (spangram tactics) →