NYT Strands #775 for Friday, April 17, 2026 plays with the phrase “Shell company.” It’s not the corporate kind — the grid is full of shelled sea creatures. The spangram names the whole class. Hints below; tap-to-reveal strip and full write-up follow the article.
Today’s Strands Hints — April 17, 2026
- Theme hint: Ocean-dwelling. Shell-bearing. Not a fish.
- Theme (plain): Varieties of a shelled sea creature class.
- Spangram hint: Seven letters. The biological class itself.
- Easiest word: Four letters. Chowder menu regular.
- Longest theme word: Seven letters. Single-shell, cooked whole.
Today’s Strands Answers — April 17, 2026
The spangram plus seven theme words sit in the tap-to-reveal strip below the article. Tap each ?, or open Show full write-up for the complete block.
My Take on Today’s Strands
The pun is the clue. “Shell company” sends your brain to offshore finance — Delaware LLCs, tax shelters — but the grid is a bestiary. Start with CLAM to unlock a corner fast; ABALONE and SCALLOP share a few letters so finding one cues the other. The spangram is MOLLUSK, and it names the whole category rather than any one creature. Clean construction.
Yesterday’s Strands — April 16, 2026 (#774)
Thursday’s theme: “This is not working”. Spangram: JUSTFORFUN. Theme words included HOBBY, INTEREST, PASTIME, RECREATION, SIDELINE. A playful puzzle built around leisure — the kind you want on a Thursday night.
What is a Spangram in Strands?
A special word or phrase that stretches edge-to-edge across the grid and names the daily theme. Always highlighted in yellow once found.
How do you play NYT Strands?
Find theme words hidden in an 8×6 letter grid by connecting adjacent letters. The spangram spans edge-to-edge and reveals the theme.
Is there a penalty for wrong guesses?
No penalty. Non-theme words earn hint tokens that help you find the real answers.
More daily puzzles: Wordle hints, Connections hints, Pips hints, Quordle, Hurdle.
Games History
NYT Strands #775 for Friday, April 17, 2026 carried the theme "Shell company" — and the spangram MOLLUSK gave it away. Every theme word was a shelled sea creature.
Theme
"Shell company" — the twist is literal, not corporate. Every hidden word is a mollusk with a shell.
Spangram
MOLLUSK
Theme Words
- ABALONE
- CLAM
- CONCH
- LIMPET
- MUSSEL
- OYSTER
- SCALLOP
Start with the shortest word (CLAM) to anchor one corner, then trace longer words outward. LIMPET and ABALONE share the L, so once you spot one the other usually falls quickly.
NYT Strands #774 for Thursday, April 16, 2026 had the theme "This is not working" with the spangram JUSTFORFUN. The hidden words were all non-work activities.
Theme
"This is not working" — the theme is a playful riff on leisure activities.
Spangram
JUSTFORFUN
Theme Words
- HOBBY
- INTEREST
- PASTIME
- RECREATION
- SIDELINE
April 13, 2026 — Strands #771
Theme: “While not in use”
Spangram: STORAGESHED
Theme words: HOSE, GRILL, MOWER, TOOLS, BICYCLE, WHEELBARROW
April 12, 2026 — Strands #770
Theme: "Get ready!"
Spangram: IN THE MIRROR
Theme words: COMB, PRIMP, BEAUTIFY, BRUSH, PREEN, GROOM, STYLE
April 11, 2026 — Strands #769
Theme: "You're putting me on"
Spangram: TOPGEAR
Theme words: BEANIE, FEDORA, BERET, BOWLER, TOQUE, DERBY, SOMBRERO
April 10, 2026 — Strands #768
Theme: ON THE SLY
Spangram: LIKEAFOX
Theme words: CRAFTY, DEVIOUS, WILY, CUNNING, CANNY, SHREWD, SLICK
