Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, April 27, 2026 (Puzzle #785). 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: "The ayes have it!"
What It Really Means
This is a clever homophone puzzle. "Ayes" sounds like "eyes" and "I's", the letter I. Every theme word in this grid starts with the letter I, and the spangram ties it all together with vision-related wordplay. You're hunting for words that all begin with the ninth letter of the alphabet.
Think About...
- Words that start with the letter I
- Things related to vision, sight, or perception
- Common nouns and adjectives beginning with I
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Vertical (snakes across and down from top to bottom)
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: Second letter of the first row, moving downward
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This word describes things that reveal truth and broaden your perspective.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think of something that makes you see the bigger picture or realize something new.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is E, last letter is S
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EYEOPENERS
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A very small amount or a tiny bit of something.
Closer: Often used in the phrase "not one ___" to mean absolutely nothing.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 4 letters total
Answer
IOTA
Word 2
Vague: To regard someone with extreme admiration or reverence.
Closer: To treat someone as perfect or flawless, like a celebrity or idol.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 7 letters total
Answer
IDOLIZE
Word 3
Vague: A hard, white material from elephant tusks, or a shade of white.
Closer: Also refers to the keys on a piano or a creamy off-white color.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 5 letters total
Answer
IVORY
Word 4
Vague: A hanging, pointed piece of frozen water.
Closer: Forms when dripping water freezes, commonly seen on rooftops in winter.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 6 letters total
Answer
ICICLE
Word 5
Vague: A landmass surrounded by water, smaller than a continent.
Closer: Think of a tropical paradise or a deserted piece of land in the ocean.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 6 letters total
Answer
ISLAND
Word 6
Vague: A symbol or image that represents something, often on a screen.
Closer: A religious painting or a clickable graphic on your computer desktop.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 4 letters total
Answer
ICON
Word 7
Vague: A situation where the outcome is the opposite of what you'd expect.
Closer: When something happens that's sarcastically fitting or contradictory.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 6 letters total
Answer
IRONIC
Full Answers
Spangram: EYEOPENERS
Theme Words:
- IOTA
- IDOLIZE
- IVORY
- ICICLE
- ISLAND
- ICON
- IRONIC
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: IDOLIZE (Seven letters that can be tough to spot in the grid, especially when you're mentally scanning for shorter words first.)
Our Take: This puzzle earns points for clever construction. The "ayes have it" theme is a smart bit of wordplay that makes you think phonetically before the pattern clicks. Once you realize every word starts with I, the grid opens up fast. The spangram EYEOPENERS ties the vision pun back to the letter-I gimmick neatly. Solid Monday-level challenge with a rewarding aha moment.
