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Need help with NYT Strands #942 for October 1, 2026? The theme is “Things fall apart.” Start with the gentle clues below, then reveal the spangram and full answer set only if you want them.

Theme hint for Strands #942

The theme wording is “Things fall apart.” Think of words for breaking down, coming apart, or no longer holding together.

Clue words for in-game hints

Find these words on the board to earn the puzzle’s in-game hints:

  • OBEY
  • CRUEL
  • CORN
  • SLAP
  • REAL
  • MATES

Spangram hint

The spangram has 12 letters. It begins on the left side of the board at row 3 and ends on the right side at row 8.

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Spoiler warning: The answers are below.

Full answers for NYT Strands #942

  • BREAK
  • CRUMBLE
  • COLLAPSE
  • DISSOLVE
  • FRAGMENT
  • Spangram: BEYONDREPAIR

TechRadar’s October 1 guide lists these answers and reports the theme and clue sequence. A separate puzzle-record page also records five theme answers and one spangram for this puzzle; it is secondary puzzle-record evidence, not an official NYT record.

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Why the date may differ by location

TechRadar notes that Strands appears at midnight in each time zone, so “today’s” puzzle can differ depending on where you are. Its September 30, 2026 guide labels this as Thursday, October 1, game #942. If your local date has not reached October 1, the puzzle may not yet match these answers.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.