NYT Strands Hints and Answers for April 17, 2026 (#775)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of April 17, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of April 17, 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 April 17, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Shell company
Today’s theme is “Shell company”. All 7 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 1A gentle clue
The 7 answers belong to one everyday scene. Picture the scene first, then look for its pieces on the board. The spangram runs across the grid, left edge to right, so look for a long sideways path first.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with A, C, C, L, M, O, S. Two of them start with the same letter (C).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7 and 7. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 7.
SpangramThe spangram
MOLLUSK
7 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with M, ends with K.
AnswersAll theme words
- CLAM4 letters
- CONCH5 letters
- LIMPET6 letters
- MUSSEL6 letters
- OYSTER6 letters
- ABALONE7 letters
- SCALLOP7 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.