NYT Strands Answer & Hints for September 13, 2025 — Puzzle #559

Stuck on today’s Strands? Below you’ll find today’s theme, spoiler-light Spangram clues
(length, orientation, first/last letters), grid words that charge hints, first/last letters
for all theme words (length-obscured), definitions, and the full solution.

Jump to:

About Today’s Strands

Puzzle #559 (published September 13, 2025). One special word — the Spangram —
spans the grid and ties the theme together.

Today’s Theme

Theme: Better than good

General Hints

Words all describe things that go beyond average—to excellence or high praise.
Think “above & beyond,” “exceptional,” “outstanding.”
One word spans the full board (the Spangram).

Spangram Length

The Spangram has 11 letters and is three words.

Spangram Orientation

The Spangram runs vertically in the grid.

Spangram First & Last Letters

Begins with T and ends with T.
Pattern preview (length-obscured): T___T

Note: We always display first/last letters as X___Y with three underscores, regardless of true length.

Hint Unlocker Words (from the grid)

SPLAT
PLATE
PLATES
SPINE
SUNK
GAMES
GAME
TONERS
TONER
TONES
TONE
MIND
SAKE
PEAS
STALE
PASTA
POSTER
SEAT
GREAT
TEXT
TEXTER
LEAN
LEANT
TALES
TALE
EXPECT
STAUN

First & Last Letters of All Words

WORD 1: P___S
WORD 2: A___S
WORD 3: A___S
WORD 4: E___S
WORD 5: L___S
WORD 6: M___S
WORD 7: T___T

Spangram preview: T___T

Spangram

Click to reveal today’s Spangram

THEY’RE GREAT

Spangram Definition

Click to reveal the definition of the Spangram

THEY’RE GREAT — a phrase used to tell someone they are excellent or really impressive.

Example: “After seeing her performance, everyone said, ‘They’re great!’”

Sample Words

Click to reveal two words from today’s solution

EXPECTATIONS
LAKES

Full Solution

Click to reveal the complete answers

Theme: Better than good

Spangram: THEY’RE GREAT

All words:

EXPECTATIONS
PLAINS
LAKES
MINDS
AUNTS
APES
THEY’RE GREAT (Spangram)

Definitions of All Words

Click to reveal definitions of today’s words

THEY’RE GREAT — a phrase used to tell someone they are excellent or really impressive.
EXPECTATIONS — beliefs or hopes about what should happen; high standards one strives to meet.
PLAINS — large areas of flat land with few trees.
LAKES — sizable bodies of water surrounded by land.
MINDS — the element of a person that enables thought, perception, judgment, and memory.
AUNTS — plural of aunt; the sisters of one’s parents, often valued family members.
APES — large primates closely related to humans, including gorillas and chimpanzees.