Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, April 20, 2026 (Puzzle #778). 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: "Glorious glaring!"
What It Really Means
You're looking for words that describe how light reflects or shines brightly. Think about different ways objects can sparkle, shine, or emit light.
Think About...
- Verbs that describe light reflection or emission
- Synonyms for shine, sparkle, or radiate
- Words that often start with "GL-" related to light
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Up, across, around and down
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: Fourth letter of the second row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase describes what happens when light interacts with a surface in a noticeable way.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think about photography or optics - it's what happens when light hits a reflective surface and becomes visible.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is C, last letter is T
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CATCHTHELIGHT
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A soft, subtle shine
Closer: What wet surfaces or polished metal do
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 7 letters total
Answer
GLISTEN
Word 2
Vague: A bright, steady shine
Closer: What polished surfaces or clean windows do
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 5 letters total
Answer
GLEAM
Word 3
Vague: A sparkling, flashy shine
Closer: What sequins or disco balls do
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 7 letters total
Answer
GLITTER
Word 4
Vague: A faint, wavering shine
Closer: What distant lights or faint stars do
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 7 letters total
Answer
GLIMMER
Word 5
Vague: A steady, warm shine
Closer: What lamps or embers do
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 4 letters total
Answer
GLOW
Word 6
Vague: A quick, sharp shine
Closer: What metal or glass does when hit by sunlight
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 5 letters total
Answer
GLINT
Full Answers
Spangram: CATCHTHELIGHT
Theme Words:
- GLISTEN
- GLEAM
- GLITTER
- GLIMMER
- GLOW
- GLINT
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: GLIMMER (It's easy to confuse with similar words like "shimmer" or "flicker")
Our Take: A straightforward theme with a clear pattern - all words start with "GL-" and describe light effects. The spangram "CATCHTHELIGHT" perfectly captures the theme. This puzzle rewards pattern recognition more than lateral thinking.
