The latest NYT Strands puzzle turns the familiar word-search format toward the human circulatory system, giving players a board built around the heart, blood vessels, circulation, and the measurements associated with the body’s vital rhythms.
For Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the New York Times has released Strands puzzle No. 940. The theme is “Have a heart,” and the puzzle contains six regular theme words alongside a spangram that ties the entire board together.
If you are trying to preserve your solving streak without immediately revealing the entire board, the hints below are arranged so you can stop before reaching the full solution.
NYT Strands #940 answers for September 29
Warning: Full spoilers below.
If the clues have not been enough and you simply want to complete today’s puzzle, the six regular answers are:
- VEIN
- ARTERY
- ATRIUM
- BLOOD
- PRESSURE
- PULSE
The spangram is:
- CARDIOVASCULAR
What does today’s NYT Strands spangram mean?
CARDIOVASCULAR refers to the heart and blood-vessel system responsible for circulating blood throughout the body.
That makes the relationship between today’s answers fairly direct. VEIN and ARTERY identify major types of blood vessels, while ATRIUM is one of the chambers of the heart. BLOOD is the substance being transported through the circulatory network. PULSE and PRESSURE describe measurable aspects of cardiovascular activity.
The spangram therefore functions as the umbrella term for the entire answer set.
This is also why the puzzle’s “Have a heart” theme can initially send solvers in several directions. The phrase can suggest emotion, affection or compassion, but the actual answers point toward anatomy and physiology.
How to play NYT Strands
NYT Strands is a word-search game in which players connect adjacent letters to form words associated with the day’s theme.
Unlike a conventional word search, the words can bend through the grid, making visual pattern recognition particularly important. The objective is to locate all the theme words and the spangram while using the letters on the board.
The spangram is especially important because it describes the common connection between the theme words and stretches across the board. Once discovered, it is highlighted differently from the regular theme words.
Players who are struggling do not necessarily need to reveal an answer immediately. Finding three valid words that are not part of the theme can generate an in-game hint. The hint then helps reveal the letters of one of the hidden theme words.
If you want another daily puzzle after finishing Strands, the NYT Strands puzzle from September 28 provides the previous entry in the series.
Understanding the final answers
BLOOD is the fluid transported through the circulatory system. VEIN and ARTERY identify two major classes of blood vessels, while ATRIUM refers to one of the heart’s upper chambers.
The word atrium is particularly important because it anchors the puzzle firmly in heart anatomy rather than the broader idea of circulation.
The final two answers, PULSE and PRESSURE, refer to measurements or physical indicators associated with cardiovascular function. The American Heart Association provides additional background on blood pressure and its clinical measurement.
Likewise, pulse provides a familiar way to describe the heartbeat and heart rate.
Today’s NYT Strands answer recap
For anyone checking the solution before moving on, here is the complete answer set for NYT Strands #940 on September 29, 2026:
Theme: “Have a heart”
Theme words: VEIN, ARTERY, ATRIUM, BLOOD, PRESSURE, PULSE
Spangram: CARDIOVASCULAR
If you solved the puzzle without using the hints, the board offered a relatively clean route once the cardiovascular connection became apparent. If you needed assistance, the spangram was the decisive clue: CARDIOVASCULAR immediately narrows the search to the heart and circulatory system.
And that is the complete solution for Tuesday’s NYT Strands.
