Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, April 16, 2026 (Puzzle #774). 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: "This is not working"
What It Really Means
The theme points to activities done purely for enjoyment rather than work or obligation. Look for words describing hobbies, leisure pursuits, and personal interests.
Think About...
- Activities you do in your free time for pleasure
- Non-professional pursuits and personal interests
- Synonyms for hobbies and recreational activities
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonally to the lower right then diagonally back up to the upper right
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This phrase describes something done purely for enjoyment rather than necessity.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's often said when explaining why you're doing something that has no practical purpose.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is J, last letter is N
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JUSTFORFUN
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A broad category of leisure activities
Closer: What you might do at a park or during vacation
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 10 letters total
Answer
RECREATION
Word 2
Vague: A personal interest pursued in spare time
Closer: Something you might collect, build, or create as a personal project
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 5 letters total
Answer
HOBBY
Word 3
Vague: An activity done alongside your main occupation
Closer: A secondary pursuit or interest that's not your primary focus
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 8 letters total
Answer
SIDELINE
Word 4
Vague: Something that occupies your time pleasantly
Closer: A diversion or amusement to pass the time
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 7 letters total
Answer
PASTIME
Word 5
Vague: Something that captures your attention
Closer: A subject or activity you find engaging and want to learn more about
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 8 letters total
Answer
INTEREST
Full Answers
Spangram: JUSTFORFUN
Theme Words:
- RECREATION
- HOBBY
- SIDELINE
- PASTIME
- INTEREST
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: SIDELINE (The connection to hobbies isn't immediately obvious compared to more common leisure terms)
Our Take: A straightforward theme with clear connections between words. The spangram "JUSTFORFUN" perfectly captures the essence of non-work activities. While most words are common hobby-related terms, "SIDELINE" adds a slightly different angle that requires thinking beyond pure recreation to secondary pursuits.
