NYT Strands Answer Today (#566) – 20 Sep 2025 Solution & Hints

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 #566 (published September 20, 2025). One special word — the Spangram —
spans the grid and ties the theme together.

Today’s Theme

Theme: Dire straits

General Hints

All the answers describe sticky situations.
Think: tricky choices, tangled messes, tough spots.
The Spangram is a short phrase you’d say when you’re in trouble.

Spangram Length

The Spangram has 6 letters and is three words.

Spangram Orientation

The Spangram runs horizontally across the grid.

Spangram First & Last Letters

Begins with I and ends with X.
Pattern preview (length-obscured): I___X

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

Hint Unlocker Words (from the grid)

PIED
MEAN
DIRT
LINE
MALE
DISS
FAME
NAME
MESSY
PICK
CAME
RITE
DIME
DRIP
QUAD
TERN
MERIT
FILE
LIFE
CINE
MINE

First & Last Letters of All Words

WORD 1: D___A
WORD 2: P___E
WORD 3: M___S
WORD 4: Q___Y
WORD 5: M___E
WORD 6: P___T

Spangram preview: I___X

Spangram

Click to reveal today’s Spangram

IN A FIX

Spangram Definition

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IN A FIX — in a difficult situation; in trouble or a tight spot.

Example: “My car died on the highway and I was really in a fix.”

Sample Words

Click to reveal two words from today’s solution

MESS
PICKLE

Full Solution

Click to reveal the complete answers

Theme: Dire straits

Spangram: IN A FIX

All words:

DILEMMA
MESS
MUDDLE
PICKLE
PREDICAMENT
QUANDARY
IN A FIX (Spangram)

Definitions of All Words

Click to reveal definitions of today’s words

IN A FIX — in a tough or troublesome situation.
DILEMMA — a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable options.
MESS — a state of confusion or disorder; a troublesome situation.
MUDDLE — an untidy or confused state; to mix up or bungle.
PICKLE — (informal) a difficult or awkward situation.
PREDICAMENT — a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
QUANDARY — a state of uncertainty over what to do; a perplexing situation.