Issue #778 Mon 20 Apr
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — April 20, 2026
The day begins with a subtle shift in illumination, tracing the path of rays across the room. Find the words that describe how surfaces interact with the morning sun.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
A photographer shifts their angle to capture the precise moment a beam hits a polished surface.
Optical phenomena and illumination
CAPTURING RADIANCE
Spangram 4 hints · 13 letters
The connector word
A three-word imperative phrase
13 letters.
Starts with C, ends with T.
CATCH THE LIGHT
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 G (5 letters)
- 2 G (7 letters)
- 3 G (5 letters)
- 4 G (7 letters)
- 5 G (7 letters)
- 6 G (4 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 GL (5 letters)
- 2 GL (7 letters)
- 3 GL (5 letters)
- 4 GL (7 letters)
- 5 GL (7 letters)
- 6 GL (4 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A steady, soft beam of reflected brightness.
5 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLEAM
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A faint, unstable signal of light in the distance.
7 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLIMMER
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A quick, sharp flash from a metallic surface.
5 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLINT
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
The appearance of a surface covered in a thin layer of moisture.
7 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLISTEN
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
Small, scattered points of intense, colorful brilliance.
7 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLITTER
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
The warm, steady emission of heat and radiance from a source.
4 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GL.
GLOW
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
- GLEAM
- GLIMMER
- GLINT
- GLISTEN
- GLITTER
- GLOW
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on April 20, 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 20, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on April 20, 2026?
NYT Strands on April 20, 2026 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 20, 2026 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 13 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "C" — 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 20, 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 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 13-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 13-letter spangram