Today's NYT Strands is live for Thursday, April 23, 2026 (Puzzle #781). 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: "Provinces of the pantheon"
What It Really Means
This theme refers to the domains or areas of influence controlled by different gods and goddesses in mythology. Think about what each deity is known for ruling over.
Think About...
- Natural phenomena controlled by gods (weather, seasons, elements)
- Human experiences and emotions governed by deities
- Specific realms or territories in mythological systems
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonally upwards then across and diagonally downwards
Letter Count: 6 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the fifth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think about what a god or goddess has authority over
Hint 2 (Warmer): This word describes a territory, sphere of influence, or area of control
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is D, last letter is N
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DOMAIN
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A powerful natural phenomenon often associated with a sky god
Closer: The sound and light show that accompanies storms
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 7 letters total
Answer
THUNDER
Word 2
Vague: An agricultural process tied to seasonal cycles
Closer: The gathering of crops when they're ripe
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 7 letters total
Answer
HARVEST
Word 3
Vague: A quality often associated with older, experienced deities
Closer: Knowledge, insight, and good judgment
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 6 letters total
Answer
WISDOM
Word 4
Vague: A powerful emotion that drives many mythological stories
Closer: Deep affection, passion, or romantic attachment
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 4 letters total
Answer
LOVE
Word 5
Vague: A mythological realm beneath the earth
Closer: The land of the dead in many ancient belief systems
Letter Clue: Starts with U, 10 letters total
Answer
UNDERWORLD
Word 6
Vague: A social institution often overseen by specific deities
Closer: The formal union between partners, often with divine blessing
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 8 letters total
Answer
MARRIAGE
Full Answers
Spangram: DOMAIN
Theme Words:
- THUNDER
- HARVEST
- WISDOM
- LOVE
- UNDERWORLD
- MARRIAGE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: UNDERWORLD (The length and specific mythological context made it less obvious than the shorter, more common words)
Our Take: A clever mythological theme that explores the different domains gods control. The puzzle balances common concepts (LOVE, WISDOM) with more specific mythological terms (UNDERWORLD). The spangram DOMAIN perfectly encapsulates the theme of divine territories and areas of influence.
