NYT Strands Answer Today #774 Wednesday, 16 April 2026

Looking for the NYT Strands answer today, Wednesday 16 April 2026 (puzzle #774)? You’re in the right place. We’ve got hints first so you can keep playing — scroll past the spoiler warning only when you’re ready for the full answer.

NYT Strands Hints for 16 April 2026 (No Spoilers)

Not quite there yet? Here are five hints to nudge you in the right direction without giving the game away.

Hint 1 — Theme category: Think about what you do when you’re not at work.

Hint 2 — Number of theme words: There are 5 non-spangram answers, plus 1 spangram.

Hint 3 — Theme clue: Today’s official theme is “This is not working.” A further in-game clue points toward leisure time.

Hint 4 — Word lengths: The non-spangram answers range from 5 to 10 letters.

Hint 5 — Spangram hint: The spangram starts with a J and runs from the far-left of the top row. It sums up why you’d do any of these activities.

Still stuck? Here are some filler words you can use in-game to unlock hint tiles — any word of four or more letters works: STEM, STEMS, STEAM, STEAMS, MAPS, TEES, RIFF, FEAR, FEAT, RATIO, REST.

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⚠️ SPOILER BELOW — The answer to today’s NYT Strands follows. Stop scrolling if you haven’t played yet.

Still thinking?

Take your time…

Last chance to look away…

NYT Strands Answer for 16 April 2026 (#774)

Today’s Strands theme is “This is not working” — meaning things you do for fun, not for a pay cheque.

The five theme answers are:

• HOBBY
• PASTIME
• INTEREST
• SIDELINE
• RECREATION

Today’s Strands spangram is: JUSTFORFUN. To find it on the board, start with the J at the far-left of the top row and wind downward, then back up — it’s the phrase that ties the whole theme together. “Just for fun” as an expression dates back centuries in English, appearing as early as the 18th century to describe activities done purely for enjoyment rather than profit or duty.

The theme word RECREATION comes from the Latin recreatio, meaning “restoration” or “recovery” — a reminder that leisure genuinely helps us recharge. SIDELINE is a nice curveball here: it usually refers to the edge of a sports pitch, but as a noun it also means a secondary activity pursued alongside your main job.

How Did We Do Today?

We’d call today’s Strands a medium difficulty. The theme clicks quickly once you spot it — “not working” pointing to leisure is a satisfying penny-drop moment — but unscrambling RECREATION and SIDELINE from the letter grid takes some patience. JUSTFORFUN as a single run-together spangram is a clever touch. Share your solve time in the comments and let us know if you needed the hints!

For yesterday’s puzzle, check out our NYT Strands answer for Tuesday 14 April 2026 (#772). And if you’re a fan of daily word games more broadly, our Wordle answer for today is also live now. For something a little different, take a look at our review of Aether Iron — the decopunk noir RPG worth your time in 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NYT Strands answer today, 16 April 2026?

The NYT Strands answers for 16 April 2026 (#774) are HOBBY, PASTIME, INTEREST, SIDELINE, and RECREATION. The spangram is JUSTFORFUN, reflecting today’s theme of leisure activities.

What is today’s NYT Strands theme for April 16 2026?

Today’s Strands theme is “This is not working”, with an in-game clue of “Leisure time”. All six answers — including the spangram JUSTFORFUN — relate to hobbies and activities done for pleasure rather than work.

How hard is today’s NYT Strands (16 April 2026)?

Today’s Strands is medium difficulty. The theme is satisfying once it clicks, but longer words like RECREATION and SIDELINE require effort to unscramble from the grid. The spangram JUSTFORFUN is cleverly hidden and spans the full board.