Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for Sept. 17, 2025

The New York Times Strands puzzle for September 17, 2025, has been released. The theme is “We beg to differ.” The puzzle is built around pairs of opposites. Players must spot hidden words that connect to the idea of contrast. The spangram ties the board together with the phrase “OPPOSITES ATTRACT.”

This puzzle is part of the Times’ popular daily games lineup, which also includes Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword. Like those, Strands keeps fans hooked with a mix of challenge and simplicity. Today’s edition stands out for its clever use of paired words, making it both tricky and rewarding.

NYT Strands Puzzle Details and Theme

Today’s game is puzzle number 563. The clue given is “We beg to differ.” That means all words in the puzzle are opposite pairs. According to game guides, finding one word often makes its match obvious. For example, spotting “BOLD” soon leads to “TIMID.”

The non-spangram answers are:

BOLD, TIMID

NOISY, QUIET

RIGID, FLEXIBLE

The spangram is OPPOSITES ATTRACT. To locate it, players need to look for the O on the bottom right corner of the board and trace it upward and across. Once all pairs and the spangram are solved, every letter on the board is used.

According to puzzle watchers, this style of Strands is popular because it rewards pattern recognition. The symmetry of opposites helps players stay on track without too many dead ends.

Why This Puzzle Stands Out

The Times has been expanding its puzzle section to reach a wider digital audience. Games like Strands are designed to combine wordplay with logical themes. Today’s “opposites” puzzle is a perfect example. It makes the solving process smoother because each answer points to its opposite partner.

Compared with other tricky themes, like “dated slang” or sea life, today’s puzzle is more accessible. Still, some solvers may struggle to find “FLEXIBLE” or “RIGID” due to the longer word lengths. The spangram “OPPOSITES ATTRACT” also adds a satisfying final step.

Puzzle fans say these word games provide both entertainment and brain exercise. They have also become a daily ritual for many readers. The simplicity of the rules makes Strands a good companion to Wordle and Connections. According to outlets like BBC and Reuters, such games have boosted subscriptions and digital engagement for the New York Times.

Closing Thoughts

Today’s NYT Strands hints and answers highlight the fun of spotting contrasts. The theme “We beg to differ” gave players clear direction, while the spangram “OPPOSITES ATTRACT” tied it all together. It was a balanced puzzle that mixed challenge with satisfaction, making it a standout entry in the series.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: What is today’s NYT Strands theme?

The theme for Sept. 17, 2025, is “We beg to differ,” focusing on opposite word pairs.

Q2: What are the answers for today’s Strands?

The answers are BOLD, TIMID, NOISY, QUIET, RIGID, FLEXIBLE, with the spangram OPPOSITES ATTRACT.

Q3: How do you find the spangram today?

Start from the far-right O on the bottom row and trace upward and across to form OPPOSITES ATTRACT.

Q4: Why are opposite pairs easier to solve?

Once you find one word, its opposite is usually clear, which helps guide the puzzle-solving process.

Q5: How many words are in today’s puzzle?

There are six non-spangram words plus the spangram, for a total of seven theme answers.