If you’re perusing this, you’re in search of help with Strands, the New York Times’ sophisticated word-search game.

Strands pushes players to reinterpret the classic word search. Words can be crafted from adjacent letters in any orientation, including diagonal, and can alter their path, forming distinctive shapes. Each letter within the grid contributes to a solution. There exists a theme linking all responses, along with the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that embodies the day’s theme and stretches across the entire grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing a cryptic hint and omitting a word list, Strands offers a mind-bending game that requires more time to complete compared to other games like Wordle and Connections.

If you find yourself at an impasse or lack 10 or more minutes to tackle today’s puzzle, we have all the NYT Strands hints you require to advance at your own pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Take a break

The words represent methods to relax.

Today’s NYT Strands theme simply clarified

These terms are activities typically done individually.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Me Time.

NYT Strands word list for September 11

– Unplug
– Exercise
– Journal
– Me Time
– Paint
– Walk
– Read
– Meditate

In search of other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page offers additional hints, and if you seek more puzzles, Mashable’s got a collection of games now!

Explore our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword puzzles, and more.

Not the date you’re looking for? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.