Issue #414 Mon 21 Apr
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — April 21, 2025
The house lights dim and the velvet curtain rises on a sequence of short, punchy performances. This grid requires a steady hand to navigate the stage.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
A spotlight sweeping across a bare floor, the smell of greasepaint, and the faint sound of a drum roll waiting for the next entrance.
Classic stage and theater performance arts.
COLLECTION OF PERFORMANCE TYPES
Spangram 4 hints · 11 letters
The connector word
Compound noun consisting of two distinct words.
11 letters.
Starts with V, ends with S.
VARIETYACTS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 A (7 letters)
- 2 C (5 letters)
- 3 D (6 letters)
- 4 D (4 letters)
- 5 J (7 letters)
- 6 M (8 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 AC (7 letters)
- 2 CO (5 letters)
- 3 DA (6 letters)
- 4 DU (4 letters)
- 5 JU (7 letters)
- 6 MA (8 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
Someone who defies gravity and bends their body into impossible shapes on a high wire.
7 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AC.
ACROBAT
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A person standing at a microphone delivering punchlines until the room erupts in laughter.
5 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CO.
COMIC
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
Moving in perfect rhythm to the music while every eye in the house tracks your footwork.
6 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DA.
DANCER
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Two voices harmonizing perfectly or a pair of instruments playing a single, shared melody.
4 letters.
Starts with D.
Starts with DU.
DUET
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
Keeping five colorful pins in the air at once without letting a single one drop to the floor.
7 letters.
Starts with J.
Starts with JU.
JUGGLER
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
A deck of cards fans out and vanishes, leaving the audience wondering how the trick was done.
8 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MA.
MAGICIAN
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- ACROBAT
- COMIC
- DANCER
- DUET
- JUGGLER
- MAGICIAN
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on April 21, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for April 21, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on April 21, 2025?
NYT Strands on April 21, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 6 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the April 21, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 11 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "V" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on April 21, 2025?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 11-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 11-letter spangram