Issue #772 Tue 14 Apr
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — April 14, 2026
A state of visual uncertainty, where clarity is elusive and details are hard to discern.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
The world through a smudged lens, where shapes lose their crispness and edges drift into a gentle indistinctness.
Visual perception and image quality
VISUAL INDISTINCTNESS
Spangram 4 hints · 10 letters
The connector word
A ten-letter adjective.
10 letters.
Starts with O, ends with S.
OUTOFFOCUS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (8 letters)
- 2 B (6 letters)
- 3 C (6 letters)
- 4 F (5 letters)
- 5 H (4 letters)
- 6 M (5 letters)
- 7 S (4 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BE (8 letters)
- 2 BL (6 letters)
- 3 CL (6 letters)
- 4 FA (5 letters)
- 5 HA (4 letters)
- 6 MU (5 letters)
- 7 SO (4 letters)
Theme word 1 of 7 5 hints · 8 letters
A theme word
Made less bright or clear, like an old photograph losing its definition over time.
8 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BE.
BEDIMMED
Theme word 2 of 7 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
Not sharp or well-defined; like looking through a dirty window.
6 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BL.
BLURRY
Theme word 3 of 7 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
Obscured by atmospheric particles, making it difficult to see distant objects clearly.
6 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CL.
CLOUDY
Theme word 4 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
Worn away or dulled by time or use, losing its original color or intensity.
5 letters.
Starts with F.
Starts with FA.
FADED
Theme word 5 of 7 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Partially obscured, as if seen through smoke or mist, with fine details difficult to discern.
4 letters.
Starts with H.
Starts with HA.
HAZY
Theme word 6 of 7 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
Subdued in tone or color, not bright or vibrant; like a sound turned down.
5 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MU.
MUTED
Theme word 7 of 7 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Gentle and not harsh or severe; like a diffused glow rather than a glaring beam.
4 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SO.
SOFT
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
- BEDIMMED
- BLURRY
- CLOUDY
- FADED
- HAZY
- MUTED
- SOFT
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on April 14, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for April 14, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on April 14, 2026?
NYT Strands on April 14, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 7 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the April 14, 2026 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 10 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "O" — 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 14, 2026?
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 7 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 7 theme words · 10-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 7 theme words · 10-letter spangram