Today's NYT Strands is live for Friday, April 3, 2026 (Puzzle #761). 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: "Smooth(ie) operator"
What It Really Means
Today's theme focuses on tropical fruits commonly used in smoothies and blended drinks.
Think About...
- Fruits you'd find in a tropical smoothie or juice bar
- Exotic fruits with vibrant colors and sweet flavors
- Popular ingredients in fruit bowls and healthy drinks
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Across, down, across and up
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the fifth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The category that all today's theme words belong to
Hint 2 (Warmer): These fruits typically grow in warm climates and are known for their sweet, juicy flavors
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is T, last letter is T
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TROPICALFRUIT
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A superfood berry from the Amazon
Closer: Often found in antioxidant-rich smoothie bowls
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 4 letters total
Answer
ACAI
Word 2
Vague: A small, bumpy-skinned fruit with sweet white flesh
Closer: Native to Southeast Asia, often canned or fresh in Asian desserts
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 6 letters total
Answer
LYCHEE
Word 3
Vague: A tropical fruit with pink or white flesh and edible seeds
Closer: Common in Latin American cuisine, often made into paste or juice
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 5 letters total
Answer
GUAVA
Word 4
Vague: A spiky tropical fruit with yellow flesh
Closer: The symbol of hospitality, often used in both sweet and savory dishes
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 9 letters total
Answer
PINEAPPLE
Word 5
Vague: A popular tropical fruit with orange flesh and large pit
Closer: Known as the "king of fruits" in some cultures
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 5 letters total
Answer
MANGO
Word 6
Vague: A large tropical fruit with orange flesh and black seeds
Closer: Often eaten for breakfast, sometimes with lime juice
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 6 letters total
Answer
PAPAYA
Full Answers
Spangram: TROPICALFRUIT
Theme Words:
- ACAI
- LYCHEE
- GUAVA
- PINEAPPLE
- MANGO
- PAPAYA
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: ACAI (Many solvers might not immediately recognize this superfood berry from its spelling)
Our Take: A straightforward tropical fruit theme with clever wordplay in the "Smooth(ie) operator" prompt. The spangram TROPICALFRUIT neatly ties everything together. While most fruits are familiar, ACAI might trip up some players who know it more from smoothie bowls than spelling. Solid Friday puzzle with a refreshing theme.
