Explore the NYT Strands puzzle for September 12, 2026, and uncover the meaning behind the ‘Don’t obsess’ theme.
Get hints for all six hidden words before checking the complete answers.
Find words associated with letting go, including FREE, DETACH, RELEASE, UNLOOSE, DISENGAGE, and LIBERATE.
Today's NYT Strands puzzle brings an extremely common challenge related to letting go of things. Once a few words appear, the overall theme becomes much easier to identify. Unlike the other theme words, the Spangram stretches across the grid, connecting two opposite sides. It can change direction as it winds through adjacent letters, making it one of the puzzle's defining features.
Today's NYT Strands is ‘Don't obsess.’ Once you look at the theme, you’re already sure that it is talking about not getting obsessed with anything or any person. So, the non-spangram words of today are associated with some of the most common terms that indicate letting go of someone or something.
Most of the words are easy to identify, although a few may be slightly trickier depending on familiarity with the world of word puzzles. The solution offers complete satisfaction since the theme remains unchanged from the start to the conclusion.
Here are the clues for each word in today’s puzzle:
First word: A four-letter word starting with FR
Second word: A six-letter word starting with DE
Third word: A seven-letter word starting with RE
Fourth word: A seven-letter word starting with UN
Fifth word: A nine-letter word starting with DI
Sixth word: An eight-letter word starting with LI
The non-spangram answers for the September 12 NYT Strands Answer are:
FREE,
DETACH,
RELEASE,
UNLOOSE,
DISENGAGE,
LIBERATE
Spangram: LETITGO
Check Out the Image Below to Learn How to Make the Sets of Today's Puzzle:
Today's puzzle provides a simple yet enjoyable challenge that features terms that indicate some of the most common words to tell someone not to hold onto something or someone across the world. The NYT Strands Today puzzle combines entertaining wordplay with established categories to produce daily puzzles that provide satisfying gameplay to all players.