Strands September 13, 2026: Answers, Spangram & Hints (#1110)
Recap
This puzzle involves identifying terms related to espionage and covert operations. Solvers must recognize roles such as agents, assets, and operatives, as well as the concept of working under disguise.
The official theme clue
Top secret
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 revolves around terms related to espionage and covert operations, focusing on roles and individuals involved in secretive activities.
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Hint 2: The category, said plainly
The same idea, unhedged.
Category related to espionage terminology and roles within intelligence operations.
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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 10 letters long.
- Theme word 1
- 4 letters
- Theme word 2
- 5 letters
- Theme word 3
- 5 letters
- Theme word 4
- 5 letters
- Theme word 5
- 9 letters
- Theme word 6
- 10 letters
- Spangram
- 10 letters, side to side
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Hint 4: One clue per word, easiest first
Crossword-style.
Theme word 1 (4 letters)
A spy who infiltrates an organization
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
Person acting on behalf of another, often in secret
Theme word 3 (5 letters)
A valuable person or thing, often in espionage
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
A person placed in an organization to gather information
Theme word 5 (9 letters)
A person working for an organization, often in a covert manner
Theme word 6 (10 letters)
Someone who works to prevent espionage by detecting and thwarting spies
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Hint 5: First two letters of every theme word
Enough to start tracing.
- Theme word 1
- MO… (4 letters)
- Theme word 2
- AG… (5 letters)
- Theme word 3
- AS… (5 letters)
- Theme word 4
- PL… (5 letters)
- Theme word 5
- OP… (9 letters)
- Theme word 6
- CO… (10 letters)
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Hint 6: What the spangram meant
The long one that tied the board together.
Describes a person working in a hidden or disguised capacity, often within a group they are investigating.
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
AGENT
An individual who acts on behalf of another, often in clandestine operations.
Theme word 2 · 5 letters
ASSET
A person or thing that provides an advantage, especially in espionage contexts.
Theme word 3 · 10 letters
COUNTERSPY
An operative tasked with detecting and neutralizing enemy spies.
Theme word 4 · 4 letters
MOLE
A spy who gains access to an organization by deception.
Theme word 5 · 9 letters
OPERATIVE
A person working for an organization, often in covert operations.
Theme word 6 · 5 letters
PLANT
An individual placed within an organization to gather secret information.
Spangram · 10 letters, side to side
UNDERCOVER
Working secretly, often in disguise, to gather information or evidence.
This puzzle by the numbers
- Puzzle
- (#1110) · Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Theme answers
- 6 plus the spangram
- Board
- 6 × 8 letters
- Answer lengths
- 4–10 letters
- Spangram
- 10 letters, side to side
- Difficulty
- medium for a weekday board
- Valid non-theme words
- 1797 accepted for hints
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