Update: We last updated this article with today's NYT Strands Answers on April 17, 2026.

NYT Strands is the new obsession for word puzzle lovers. This game is a captivating hunt for a secret theme hidden in a chaotic grid. If today's puzzle has you stumped, don't worry, we've got the clues and answers you need to solve the mystery. Here are NYT Strands answers today, with hints for April 17, 2026

NYT Strands #775 Hints for April 17, 2026

Here are today’s NYT Strands hints for you.

NYT Strand's theme today is: "Shell company"

While many words may reveal themselves to you, the game’s objective is to find words related to the day’s theme.

Click here to reveal hints for today's NYT Strands
  • Strands hint No. 1: Every answer in today's grid is a specialized resident of the ocean floor.
  • Strands hint No. 2: Focus on creatures that carry their own "mobile homes" made of calcium carbonate.
  • Strands hint No. 3: CL, CO, LI, MU, OY, AB, SC

You don’t need another hint for today’s Strands puzzle.

NYT Strands Answer Today for April 17, 2026

Click here to reveal NYT Strands answers today with all the words, including spangram.
  • Spangram word – MOLLUSK
  • Remaining words: Clam, Conch, Limpet, Mussel, Oyster, Abalone, Scallop

Click here to reveal the NYT Strands answers puzzle image.
"Shell company" NYT Strands Answers Today, April 17

Today's Strands was a refreshing dive into marine biology that required a keen eye for patterns found in tide pools and seafood menus alike. While the Spangram serves as a perfect structural anchor for the grid, some of the more obscure seven-letter entries might leave you feeling a bit "cramped" if you aren't familiar with coastal gastropods. I found that starting with the shorter, four-letter words helped clear enough space to visualize the more winding paths of the larger specimens. It’s a sophisticated set that rewards players who can distinguish between their garden-variety finds and the more prized treasures of the reef! I'd rate it 4 out of 5.

How did you like today's NYT Strands puzzle? Easy, hard, or meh?

You can also check out today's answers for other NYT puzzles :

NYT Strands Rules

NYT Strands is a word game that is played on a 6x8 letter grid containing seemingly random letters. Each letter must be used in some way so that when all the words have been found, the board is full, leaving no letter unused.

Each puzzle has a theme, but you don't know what the theme is. A hint is provided at the start of the game. You must guess all the common theme-related words that have something in common, leading to the Spangram.

Spangram is a special challenge word or base of the theme. All the words, when solved, are denoted in blue except the Spangram, which is denoted in yellow when guessed correctly and touches two ends of the board, side to side or top to bottom. Spangram denotes what's common between all the other words on the board.

Note: Players can find non-theme words to earn hints. Every 3 non-theme words will unlock a hint.

That's all for today's NYT Strands answers, guys. Come back tomorrow for the next one.