Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, April 24, 2026 (Puzzle #782). 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: "Hullabaloo"
What It Really Means
This puzzle is all about noise -- loud, disruptive, attention-grabbing sounds. Every theme word describes a way to make noise, from a quick exclamation to a full-throated roar. Think commotion, racket, and uproar.
Think About...
- Ways to raise your voice above the crowd
- Verbs for shouting, yelling, or making a scene
- Animal-inspired vocalizations and human outbursts
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Across, down then diagonally to the lower left and across and down
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Fourth letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase is an invitation to make some noise -- think concert energy, not library behavior.
Hint 2 (Warmer): A four-word command that turns up the volume. Picture a crowd at a stadium or a rock show.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is L, last letter is D
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LETSGETLOUD
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A sudden burst of vocal noise, often used to get someone's attention.
Closer: What you do when you call across a crowded room or cheer at a game.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
SHOUT
Word 2
Vague: A loud, confused noise -- the sound of many voices at once.
Closer: The din of a heated argument or a bustling marketplace.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 6 letters total
Answer
CLAMOR
Word 3
Vague: A sharp, loud cry, often expressing frustration or excitement.
Closer: Similar to shout, but with a more urgent or aggressive edge. Think "I'm calling for you."
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 6 letters total
Answer
HOLLER
Word 4
Vague: A deep, powerful roar -- the kind that comes from the chest, not the throat.
Closer: What a bull or an angry giant does. Big sound, big presence.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 6 letters total
Answer
BELLOW
Word 5
Vague: A short, exuberant cry -- more of a burst than a sustained yell.
Closer: The sound you make when your team scores or something exciting happens suddenly.
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 5 letters total
Answer
WHOOP
Word 6
Vague: A harsh, screeching wail that sounds anything but pleasant.
Closer: The sound a cat makes when it's really upset -- think yowling, not meowing.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 9 letters total
Answer
CATERWAUL
Full Answers
Spangram: LETSGETLOUD
Theme Words:
- SHOUT
- CLAMOR
- HOLLER
- BELLOW
- WHOOP
- CATERWAUL
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: CATERWAUL (Nine letters makes it the longest theme word, and the feline association might not click immediately -- especially since "cat" is hidden at the start but the word describes a specific kind of yowling, not a general animal noise.)
Our Take: A satisfyingly cohesive theme that builds from short, punchy shouts to a full-throated caterwaul. The spangram LETSGETLOUD sets the tone perfectly -- this puzzle rewards players who think about volume and vocal variety. Solid Friday challenge without being punishing.
