Past puzzleApr 20, 2026Puzzle #953

Strands hints: Apr 20, 2026

Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Apr 20, 2026 (2026-04-20) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.

Puzzle #953 · 2026-04-20

Step through today’s Strands hints

Layer 1

Hint 1 – theme clue

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Gloriously glaring!

6 theme wordsSpangram 13 lettersMediumCategory List

Layer 2

Hint 2 – board structure

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This board is built around 6 themed answers plus a 13-letter spangram that ties the whole set together. Touches the top and bottom edges.

6 theme wordsSpangram: 13 lettersDifficulty: MediumTheme: Category List

Use this layer when you want the structure of the board without seeing any exact answer paths yet.

Layer 3

Hint 3 – starting letters

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Here are the opening letters and broad board regions for each hidden answer, plus the opening letter of the spangram.

Theme word 1

Starts with G • top-left quadrant

Theme word 2

Starts with G • top-right quadrant

Theme word 3

Starts with G • bottom-right quadrant

Theme word 4

Starts with G • top-left quadrant

Theme word 5

Starts with G • bottom-left quadrant

Theme word 6

Starts with G • bottom band

Spangram

Starts with C • Touches the top and bottom edges

Layer 4

Hint 4 – theme words

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Here are the exact theme answers without the board paths yet.

GLEAMGLIMMERGLINTGLISTENGLITTERGLOW

Layer 5

Hint 5 – spangram

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CATCHTHELIGHT

Path: (8, 3) → (7, 3) → (6, 3) → (5, 3) → (4, 3) → (4, 4) → (3, 4) → (2, 5) → (2, 6) → (1, 6) → (1, 5) → (1, 4) → (2, 4)

Layer 6

Hint 6 – solved grid

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Blue cells = theme wordsGold cells = spangram

GLEAM

(5, 2) → (4, 2) → (3, 3) → (2, 3) → (1, 3)

GLIMMER

(5, 6) → (4, 6) → (5, 5) → (5, 4) → (4, 5) → (3, 6) → (3, 5)

GLINT

(6, 6) → (7, 6) → (8, 6) → (8, 5) → (7, 5)

GLISTEN

(1, 2) → (1, 1) → (2, 2) → (3, 2) → (2, 1) → (3, 1) → (4, 1)

GLITTER

(8, 1) → (7, 1) → (8, 2) → (7, 2) → (6, 1) → (5, 1) → (6, 2)

GLOW

(8, 4) → (7, 4) → (6, 4) → (6, 5)

Theme clue

Gloriously glaring!

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