Today’s NYT Strands puzzle leans into the visual, or rather, the lack of it. If you’ve been squinting at the grid trying to make sense of things, that’s fitting, because the theme is all about words that describe something blurry, dim, or indistinct. Read on for progressive hints and the full answer list.
What Is NYT Strands?
Strands is the New York Times’ elevated take on the classic word search. Rather than simply finding words in a straight line, Strands requires you to trace connected letters through the grid — up, down, left, right, or diagonally — and words can change direction, forming unusual snaking shapes. Every single letter in the grid belongs to an answer word, with no leftovers. Each puzzle has a unifying theme, and one special entry called the spangram — a word or phrase that captures the day’s theme and spans the entire grid from one edge to the other, either horizontally or vertically.
Today’s Theme Hint
Today’s theme clue is: “It’s a little unclear.”
The words in today’s puzzle are all related to obscurity — specifically, they describe things that appear fuzzy, dim, or indistinct. Think of what you might say about a photo that didn’t quite come out right, or what your vision looks like without glasses.
Spangram Hint
Need a nudge on the spangram before you see the answer? Today’s spangram runs vertically through the grid.
Spangram Answer
Today’s spangram is Out of Focus.
It ties the theme together perfectly — all of the puzzle’s other words describe visual or conceptual states that could be called “out of focus,” from literal blurriness to dimness and muted quality.
All Word Answers for April 14, 2026
Here is the complete word list for today’s NYT Strands puzzle:
- Soft
- Bedimmed
- Hazy
- Blurry
- Faded
- Muted
- Cloudy
- Out of Focus (spangram)
Full Summary
Today’s puzzle is a cohesive set of words that all orbit the idea of something that isn’t quite sharp or vivid. Blurry and Hazy are the most visually intuitive — both conjure images of scenes that have lost their crisp edges, like a foggy morning or an unfocused photograph. Cloudy reinforces this, describing skies or liquids (or eyesight) that lack clarity. Soft takes a slightly different angle, suggesting something without hard definition, whether light, focus, or detail. Faded and Muted shift toward color and intensity — things that were once vivid but have lost their punch over time. Bedimmed is the most literary of the bunch, an older word for something that has been made dim or dark, perfectly at home in a puzzle celebrating obscurity. Together, they all point straight to the spangram: Out of Focus.
More NYT Strands Answers
Looking for hints from other recent puzzles? Check out these previous Strands solutions on dotwordle.com:
- April 13, 2026 NYT Strands — “While Not in Use”
- April 12, 2026 NYT Strands — “In the Mirror”
- April 11, 2026 NYT Strands — “You’re Putting Me On”
More Daily Puzzle Help
Need help with today’s other NYT puzzles? We’ve got you covered:
- April 13, 2026 Wordle #1759 Hint and Answer
- April 13, 2026 NYT Connections Puzzle #1037 Hints and Answers
- April 13, 2026 Hurdle 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.
