If you’re looking for hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Monday, April 7, 2025, you’ve come to the right place. The theme for today’s Strands is “Half-and-half,” which revolves around mythical creatures that are a blend of two different animals. The puzzle challenges players to identify various mashups inspired by mythology and fantasy literature.
The spangram for today’s puzzle is HYBRIDCREATURE, a term that perfectly encapsulates the theme. In this edition, players will be tasked with finding five specific theme words: MERMAID, JACKALOPE, SATYR, CENTAUR, and GRIFFIN. Each of these words represents a unique creature that combines elements from different species, making them fitting examples of the theme.
To play Strands, users can access the game on the New York Times website and through the NYT Games app. The objective is to locate hidden words within a grid that reflect the puzzle’s theme. The spangram serves as a key indicator of the theme and spans the entire game board. Players can find words in any direction—up, down, left, right, or diagonal—while ensuring that each letter is only used once.
As the puzzle unfolds, players will encounter various non-theme words, which can be useful for gaining hints. If you’re stuck, you can submit non-theme words of four letters or more to unlock hints that will help you identify the theme words. The game offers no penalties for incorrect guesses, allowing players to enjoy the challenge without the fear of failure.
For those also interested in the Connections: Sports Edition, launched by the New York Times in collaboration with The Athletic, it offers a fresh twist on word games. This new edition tests sports fans on their knowledge of various terms related to the world of sports. Each puzzle consists of 16 words, which players must categorize into four distinct groups.
Today’s Connections Sports Edition puzzle features categories that include hints such as: Yellow: Important to do for home runs; Green: Also team names without the 's'; Blue: Stars of the booth; and Purple: Same second word.
The solutions for today’s puzzle are as follows: For the category of hitting a baseball hard, the answers are BELT, BLISTER, HAMMER, and TATTOO. In the NBA player category, the answers include CAVALIER, KNICK, NET, and PISTON. The famous broadcasters are BUCK, EAGLE, MICHAELS, and NANTZ, while the tackle category features HORSE-COLLAR, LEFT, NOSE, and SLIDE.
Shifting gears to the ever-popular Wordle puzzle, the latest review for April 7, 2025, indicates that today’s word is SPARE, which can function as a noun, adjective, or verb. This word can mean a replacement or refer to something not in regular use. The average difficulty rating for today’s Wordle is noted as 3.7 guesses out of 6, making it a challenging endeavor for many solvers.
For those needing a little assistance, hints for today’s Wordle include a consonant R and a vowel E. The Wordle community is encouraged to engage with each other through comments and social media, sharing their experiences and strategies for solving the puzzle.
Today’s Wordle also features the artistic talents of Joanne Joo, a self-taught illustrator from Bangkok. Her work reflects a keen observation of everyday life, emphasizing creative autonomy and personal expression.
The New York Times Games team continues to engage its audience by sharing tips and insights through social media platforms, ensuring that players remain connected and informed about their favorite puzzles.
As the day progresses, players across the globe will dive into these various puzzles, testing their skills and knowledge while enjoying the thrill of word games. Whether you’re solving the Strands, Connections, or Wordle, the challenge awaits!
