NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 16, 2026 (#684)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 16, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 16, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for January 16, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
DC crusader
Today’s theme is “DC crusader”. All 7 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, J, J, M, P, R, V. Two of them start with the same letter (J).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7 and 9. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
BATMAN
6 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with B, ends with N.
AnswersAll theme words
- CAPE4 letters
- JOKER5 letters
- MANOR5 letters
- ROBIN5 letters
- JUSTICE7 letters
- PENGUIN7 letters
- VENGEANCE9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.