Strands September 10, 2026: Answers, Spangram & Hints (#1109)
Recap
This puzzle celebrated achievements and honors given to those who succeed in various competitions, with a range of symbols and tokens that signify victory.
The official theme clue
Victory lap
Printed above the board in the app itself that day — the line that decided which of the many words hiding in the grid actually counted.
Strands hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the answers, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
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Hint 1: What the theme was getting at
A reading of the theme. No answers.
The theme is about symbols or tokens given to someone who has achieved something notable, often in a competitive setting, signifying their success or superiority.
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Hint 2: The category, said plainly
The same idea, unhedged.
Awards or honors
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Hint 3: Board facts: how many words, how long
Counted off the grid.
The board was 6 letters wide and 8 tall. 6 theme answers were hidden in it, plus the spangram, which ran side to side and was 13 letters long.
- Theme word 1
- 5 letters
- Theme word 2
- 7 letters
- Theme word 3
- 5 letters
- Theme word 4
- 7 letters
- Theme word 5
- 5 letters
- Theme word 6
- 6 letters
- Spangram
- 13 letters, side to side
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Hint 4: One clue per word, easiest first
Crossword-style.
Theme word 1 (5 letters)
A monarch's symbol of power, also used to denote achievement in competitions
Theme word 2 (7 letters)
Leaves woven into a wreath to honor ancient Greek and Roman victors
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
A flat piece of metal awarded to commemorate an achievement
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
A flag or banner indicating a team's superiority, often flown during sports events
Theme word 5 (5 letters)
Something of value given to the winner of a contest or competition
Theme word 6 (6 letters)
A physical object presented to the winner of a contest, often kept as a memento
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Hint 5: First two letters of every theme word
Enough to start tracing.
- Theme word 1
- CR… (5 letters)
- Theme word 2
- LA… (7 letters)
- Theme word 3
- ME… (5 letters)
- Theme word 4
- PE… (7 letters)
- Theme word 5
- PR… (5 letters)
- Theme word 6
- TR… (6 letters)
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Hint 6: What the spangram meant
The long one that tied the board together.
A phrase used to acknowledge someone's success or achievement in a clear and triumphant way
It touched both edges, running side to side across all 6 columns.
The starting letter board
The grid as printed, 6 across and 8 down. Read only — reveal an answer below and this board traces it.
Every Strands answer and the spangram
Every answer from that board, folded. Opening one traces its path above — the spangram in gold.
Theme word 1 · 5 letters
CROWN
A symbol of royalty or top achievement, often used in beauty pageants or competitions
Theme word 2 · 7 letters
LAURELS
A wreath made of leaves, historically given to victors in ancient Greece and Rome
Theme word 3 · 5 letters
MEDAL
A metal award given for achievements, often worn or displayed
Theme word 4 · 7 letters
PENNANT
A flag indicating a team's success, commonly used in sports
Theme word 5 · 5 letters
PRIZE
An award or gift given to the winner of a contest, often valuable or coveted
Theme word 6 · 6 letters
TROPHY
A physical object awarded to the winner, often kept as a symbol of achievement
Spangram · 13 letters, side to side
WEHAVEAWINNER
A phrase used to announce that someone has achieved victory or success
This puzzle by the numbers
- Puzzle
- (#1109) · Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Theme answers
- 6 plus the spangram
- Board
- 6 × 8 letters
- Answer lengths
- 5–7 letters
- Spangram
- 13 letters, side to side
- Difficulty
- medium for a weekday board
- Valid non-theme words
- 827 accepted for hints
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