NYT Strands Today – Puzzle #563, 17 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 #563 (published September 17, 2025). One special word — the Spangram —
spans the grid and ties the theme together.

Today’s Theme

Theme: We beg to differ

General Hints

Think pairs of words with opposing qualities.
Several answers are adjectives describing personality or sound.
The Spangram is a common phrase about attraction.

Spangram Length

The Spangram has 16 letters and is two words.

Spangram Orientation

The Spangram runs vertically across the grid.

Spangram First & Last Letters

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

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

Hint Unlocker Words (from the grid)

TINS
MELT
DIME
DATE
CRAFT
BOLT
STOP
TOME
BOLTED
ATTRACT
SOLED
SOLE
QUINT
TRACT
OPPOSITE
BELT
EXILE
FILE
POST
POSY
BIDE
FILES
FLEX
NOSY

First & Last Letters of All Words

WORD 1: R___D
WORD 2: F___E
WORD 3: B___D
WORD 4: Q___T
WORD 5: N___Y
WORD 6: T___D

Spangram preview: O___T

Spangram

Click to reveal today’s Spangram

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Spangram Definition

Click to reveal the definition of the Spangram

OPPOSITES ATTRACT — the idea that people or things with contrasting qualities can be drawn to one another or work well together.

Example: “She’s quiet and he’s loud — opposites attract.”

Sample Words

Click to reveal two words from today’s solution

BOLD
NOISY

Full Solution

Click to reveal the complete answers

Theme: We beg to differ

Spangram: OPPOSITES ATTRACT

All words:

BOLD
FLEXIBLE
NOISY
QUIET
RIGID
TIMID
OPPOSITES ATTRACT (Spangram)

Definitions of All Words

Click to reveal definitions of today’s words

OPPOSITES ATTRACT — principle that contrasting traits can complement each other.
BOLD — confident; willing to take risks.
FLEXIBLE — able to bend or adapt easily.
NOISY — loud; full of sound.
QUIET — making little or no noise; calm.
RIGID — stiff; not easily bent or changed.
TIMID — shy; lacking in courage or confidence.