Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is all about radiance — and if you know your synonyms for shining, you’ll find the grid lights up nicely. Whether you want a gentle nudge or the full answer list, this guide walks you through everything in order: hints before answers, always.
What Is NYT Strands?
Strands is the New York Times’ elevated take on the classic word search. Players find hidden words by connecting adjacent letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonally — and words can even change direction, forming unusual shapes across the grid. Every single letter in the board is used exactly once.
Each daily puzzle has a unifying theme, and all words in the grid relate to that theme. There’s also a special word called the spangram — a word or phrase that encapsulates the theme and physically spans the entire grid from one side to the other, either horizontally or vertically. Unlike a standard word search, Strands never gives you the word list upfront; figuring out the theme from the clue is half the challenge.
Today’s Theme Hint
The official theme clue for April 20, 2026 is: “Gloriously glaring!”
This points you toward words that describe something that shines or emits light. Think about the soft glow of a candle, the dazzle of sunlight on water, or the sparkle of glitter — all of those visual sensations are in play today.
Spangram Hint: Direction
Today’s NYT Strands spangram runs vertically through the grid. Keep that in mind as you scan from top to bottom — the spangram will stretch the full height of the board.
Spangram Answer
Today’s spangram is Catch the Light.
This phrase perfectly captures the theme: each of the regular puzzle words describes a specific way that light catches and reflects off a surface. The spangram ties them all together under the idea of light interaction.
All Word Answers for April 20, 2026
Here is the complete word list for today’s NYT Strands puzzle:
- Glisten — the way a wet surface shimmers
- Gleam — a steady, soft shine
- Glitter — a sparkling, multi-point flash of light
- Glimmer — a faint or wavering light
- Glow — a warm, diffuse radiance
- Glint — a sharp, brief flash of reflected light
- Catch the Light (spangram)
Full Summary: How the Theme Comes Together
Today’s puzzle is a beautifully cohesive set of six words — plus the spangram — all describing the many ways light can behave when it hits a surface. It’s worth appreciating just how distinct each answer feels despite the shared theme.
Glow is the warmest and most diffuse of the bunch: think of embers in a fireplace or a lamp behind a shade. There’s no sharp edge to a glow — it radiates outward in all directions. Gleam, by contrast, implies a cleaner, steadier shine — polished silverware gleams, a calm lake gleams under low sun.
Glisten adds moisture to the equation. Skin glistens after rain, fresh fruit glistens under supermarket lights. There’s an almost organic quality to the word. Glimmer is the most delicate of the set — a glimmer barely registers, like a distant lighthouse or a star that almost isn’t there.
Glint is the sharpest of all: a glint is sudden, angular, and brief — a knife catching the light, a mirror flashing across a room. And then there’s Glitter, which is plural and festive by nature, conjuring disco balls, sequins, and party crafts.
Together, all six words feed into the spangram Catch the Light — a phrase that beautifully describes what every one of these words has in common. It’s one of those Strands themes that feels obvious in hindsight but genuinely challenges you during the solve, especially since five of the six answers all begin with “Gl-,” making it tricky to distinguish them in the grid.
More Daily Puzzle Help
Looking for hints and answers to other daily puzzles? Check out these recent guides on dotwordle.com:
More NYT Strands:
- April 18, 2026 NYT Strands “On the Cheap” Hints and Answers
- April 17, 2026 NYT Strands “Shell Company” Hints and Answers
- April 16, 2026 NYT Strands “This Is Not Working” Hints and Answers
Other Games:
- April 18, 2026 Wordle #1764 Hint and Answer
- April 18, 2026 Hurdle Hints and Answers
- April 18, 2026 NYT Pips Hints and Answers
Shahid Maqsood is a digital entrepreneur and SEO specialist focused on building engaging web experiences. He is the creator of DotWordle, combining creativity with smart, user-friendly design.
