NYT Strands Puzzle Unveils April 21 Theme and Hints

NEW YORK, April 20, 2025 — Fans of word games can look forward to today’s edition of the New York Times Strands puzzle, which invites players to uncover themed words from a grid of letters. With an intriguing theme and a challenging spangram, the puzzle aims to captivate and entertain users throughout the day.

The Strands puzzle presents players with a 6×8 grid filled with letters. The primary goal is to identify words that fit a specific theme, which in today’s puzzle is “What talent!” Players receive hints related to various skills and performances. When users discover a theme word, it is highlighted in blue on the grid.

In addition to the theme words, players must also find a special word known as a spangram, which unites two sides of the grid. Distinct from the theme words, the spangram can include proper names. Upon successful identification, the spangram is highlighted in yellow. Today’s featured spangram is “VARIETYACTS,” according to the NYT, and it runs horizontally.

“Some themes are fill-in-the-blank phrases or items belonging to the same category,” the NYT notes. “Players might encounter curveballs in difficulty, similar to what Wordle enthusiasts experience with varying challenges throughout the week,” said Tracy Bennett, editor of Wordle and Strands.

Hints for the puzzle suggest looking for various performance-related terms, which modern audiences may associate with talent shows like “America’s Got Talent.” The theme reflects a range of skills, from singing to juggling, providing a nostalgic connection to the variety acts of television.

Co-author of today’s hints, Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, stated, “Once you engage with the puzzle, the connections become evident, though some terms may feel outdated.”

To successfully progress in the game, players can reveal words by finding three words of four letters or more, which unlocks one of the theme words. As players continue to identify words across the grid, they will interactively piece together the solutions for today’s puzzle.

The Strands puzzle is a delightful addition to the NYT’s lineup of word games, which also includes the Mini Crossword and Connections. These daily challenges provide a compelling way to engage with language and exercise one’s mental agility.