Introduction

Friday’s NYT Strands puzzle (#572, September 26, 2025) brought a thematic twist: “As old as time.” Solvers were challenged to uncover words tied to grandfather clocks and traditional timekeeping devices. With its tick-tock rhythm and mechanical vocabulary, today’s Strands offered a delightful mix of wordplay and horology.

The puzzle included a spangram (GRANDFATHER CLOCK) plus clock parts like GEARS, CHIMES, WEIGHTS, WINDER, PENDULUM. If you found yourself stuck, don’t worry—this guide provides progressive hints, solving strategies, and complete answers. Spoilers are clearly marked so you can stop at hints if you want to finish the puzzle independently.

Today’s NYT Strands Theme: As Old as Time

The theme “As old as time” connects directly to antique mechanical clocks, particularly the grandfather clock. These tall, weight-driven pendulum clocks date back to the 17th century and symbolize enduring timekeeping traditions.

Clue words today highlighted essential clock mechanisms:

• GEARS → drive the clock hands
• CHIMES → mark the passing hours
• WEIGHTS → provide energy
• WINDER → resets the mechanism
• PENDULUM → regulates timekeeping

This theme gave solvers a vocabulary lesson in both language and horology.

Progressive Hints and Clue Word Strategy

Here are step-by-step hints without immediate spoilers:

• Hint 1: The theme involves mechanical timepieces.
• Hint 2: Think of grandfather clocks and their moving parts.
• Hint 3: Words include mechanisms, sound features, and power sources.
• Hint 4: The spangram spans across much of the board and represents the entire clock.

Strategy tip: When facing themed puzzles, identify core vocabulary categories first. Here, mechanical parts and sound-producing features led directly to the answers.

Finding the Spangram: GRANDFATHER CLOCK

The spangram was GRANDFATHER CLOCK, a term describing the iconic tall, weight-driven pendulum clock.

• Start: Near the top-left of the grid.
• Path: The letters wind downward and across, mimicking the tall structure of a real grandfather clock.

???? Horological note: The term “grandfather clock” came into popular use after the 1876 song “My Grandfather’s Clock.”

Complete Clock Component Vocabulary

Here are today’s full Strands answers with definitions:

• GEARS – toothed wheels that transmit power to move the clock hands.
• CHIMES – melodic sounds marking hours or quarter-hours.
• WEIGHTS – heavy objects providing the clock’s driving force as they descend.
• WINDER – device used to tighten the mechanism and reset energy.
• PENDULUM – swinging rod that regulates the clock’s steady “tick-tock.”
• Spangram: GRANDFATHER CLOCK – the tall, classic clock housing these mechanisms.

Each answer ties back to mechanical function and time vocabulary enrichment.

Friday Timepiece Puzzle Strategy

Friday Strands puzzles often push solvers with thematic depth. To succeed:

1. Spot the spangram early – identifying GRANDFATHER CLOCK guided the rest.
2. Think in categories – parts (GEARS), sounds (CHIMES), power (WEIGHTS), regulators (PENDULUM).
3. Use historical context – knowing timepiece history makes these puzzles easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is today’s NYT Strands theme for September 26, 2025?
A1: The theme is “As old as time”, highlighting grandfather clocks and their parts.

Q2: What is the spangram for Strands #572?
A2: The spangram is GRANDFATHER CLOCK.

Q3: What are all the answers for Strands #572?
A3: The answers are GEARS, CHIMES, WEIGHTS, WINDER, PENDULUM, plus the spangram GRANDFATHER CLOCK.

Q4: What does the tick-tock hint refer to?
A4: It refers to the pendulum and escapement mechanism that regulates a clock’s rhythm.

Q5: How do weights work in a grandfather clock?
A5: Weights provide energy, slowly descending to power the gears and hands.

Conclusion

NYT Strands #572 (September 26, 2025) brought us a thematic delight with grandfather clock mechanics. The spangram GRANDFATHER CLOCK tied together answers like GEARS, CHIMES, WEIGHTS, WINDER, and PENDULUM.

This puzzle wasn’t just about solving words—it offered a mini vocabulary lesson in horology. As the weekend approaches, expect even more creative and historical puzzle themes from Strands. Keep your solving pace steady—like a pendulum—and enjoy the tick-tock rhythm of discovery.