Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, April 17, 2026 (Puzzle #775). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Shell company"
What It Really Means
Today's puzzle features marine creatures with protective shells. The theme is a clever play on words, "shell company" refers to both business entities and literal shell-producing animals.
Think About...
- Edible shellfish you'd find on a seafood menu
- Marine mollusks with hard outer coverings
- Creatures that produce pearls or have spiral shells
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonally then across and up
Letter Count: 7 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The biological category that includes all shell-producing creatures in today's puzzle.
Hint 2 (Warmer): A broad classification of invertebrates that often have shells, including snails, clams, and octopuses.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is M, last letter is K
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MOLLUSK
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A bivalve known for producing pearls
Closer: Often served on the half shell with lemon
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 6 letters total
Answer
OYSTER
Word 2
Vague: A common bivalve found in sandy ocean floors
Closer: Often used in chowder or steamed with garlic butter
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 4 letters total
Answer
CLAM
Word 3
Vague: A spiral-shaped seashell often used as a horn
Closer: Large marine snail with a distinctive flared opening
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 5 letters total
Answer
CONCH
Word 4
Vague: A large sea snail with an iridescent shell
Closer: Prized for mother-of-pearl and edible meat
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 7 letters total
Answer
ABALONE
Word 5
Vague: A small conical shellfish that clings to rocks
Closer: Known for its strong suction and simple shell shape
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 6 letters total
Answer
LIMPET
Word 6
Vague: A bivalve often found in freshwater and saltwater
Closer: Commonly steamed with white wine and garlic
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 6 letters total
Answer
MUSSEL
Word 7
Vague: A fan-shaped shellfish with ridged shells
Closer: Often served seared or baked with breadcrumbs
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 7 letters total
Answer
SCALLOP
Full Answers
Spangram: MOLLUSK
Theme Words:
- OYSTER
- CLAM
- CONCH
- ABALONE
- LIMPET
- MUSSEL
- SCALLOP
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: LIMPET (Less common than other shellfish, and its conical shape isn't immediately associated with "shell company" wordplay)
Our Take: Clever wordplay on "shell company" makes this puzzle engaging. The marine theme is consistent, though LIMPET might trip up casual solvers. Solid execution with a good mix of common and less-familiar shellfish.
