NYT Strands Today – Puzzle #562, 16 Sep 2025

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.

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About Today’s Strands

Puzzle #562 (published September 16, 2025). One special word — the Spangram —
spans the grid and ties the theme together.

Today’s Theme

Theme: Riding High

General Hints

Think outdoor adventure with safety gear.
Several answers are items you wear or clip on.
Spot the connecting action and the rest fall into place.

Spangram Length

The Spangram has 9 letters and is two words.

Spangram Orientation

The Spangram runs vertically across the grid.

Spangram First & Last Letters

Begins with Z and ends with G.
Pattern preview (length-obscured): Z___G

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

Hint Unlocker Words (from the grid)

RACING
PLUG
HILL
BELL
HELL
MINES
MINE
LINES
LINE
MINI
BAIL
LING
LOVES
LOVE
LENS
LESS
NILL
ROVE
REBEL
MILES
MILE
TILES
TILE
MISS
PULL

First & Last Letters of All Words

WORD 1: C___E
WORD 2: G___S
WORD 3: H___S
WORD 4: P___Y
WORD 5: H___T
WORD 6: C___R

Spangram preview: Z___G

Spangram

Click to reveal today’s Spangram

ZIP LINING

Spangram Definition

Click to reveal the definition of the Spangram

ZIPLINING — traveling along a suspended cable using a pulley and harness for speed and safety, often as an outdoor adventure activity.

Example: “We went ziplining over the canyon with helmets, gloves, and a sturdy harness.”

Sample Words

Click to reveal two words from today’s solution

HARNESS
HELMET

Full Solution

Click to reveal the complete answers

Theme: Riding high

Spangram: ZIPLINING

All words:

CABLE
CARABINER
GLOVES
HARNESS
HELMET
PULLEY
ZIPLINING (Spangram)

Definitions of All Words

Click to reveal definitions of today’s words

ZIPLINING — moving along a suspended cable using a pulley system for recreation or transit.
CABLE — a strong wire rope stretched between points; the line you ride on.
CARABINER — a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to quickly connect gear.
GLOVES — protective handwear that improves grip and guards against friction.
HARNESS — safety straps and belts that secure a person to the system.
HELMET — head protection worn for safety during the ride.
PULLEY — the wheel/assembly that runs along the cable to carry the rider.