- Today’s Spangram: The primary connecting word for Puzzle #767 is MEDIUM, running horizontally across the center of the grid.
- Theme Palette: All six theme words relate to artistic materials and painting techniques, including specialized terms like Tempera and Fresco.
- Difficulty Rating: Rated as a 3/5 (Moderate), today’s challenge requires navigating longer words that snake through the middle of the board.
Staring at a grid of jumbled letters can often feel like standing before a blank canvas—daunting, yet full of potential. Today’s NYT Strands puzzle for 9 April 2026, encourages you to pick up a virtual brush and start painting with words. Whether you are a regular at the official NYT Games dashboard or a casual solver, Puzzle #767 offers a refreshing, colorful challenge that rewards those with a keen eye for artistic terminology.
- Puzzle Number: #767
- Theme Hint: “In the paint”
- Total Theme Words: 6 + Spangram
- Difficulty: Medium
Progressive Hints: Nudges Before the Reveal
If you aren’t ready for the full solution yet, use these progressive hints to get your brain moving in the right direction. Just like the NYT Strands Hints and Answer for 12 May 2026 #800, today’s puzzle relies on a specific category that spans centuries of human history.
Hint 1: The Context
While “In the paint” might sound like a basketball reference, this puzzle has nothing to do with sports. Think about a studio, an easel, and the smell of turpentine.
Hint 2: The Word Types
Every theme word today describes a type of paint or the substance an artist uses to bind pigment. If you’ve ever been to an art supply store, you’ve seen these labels on every aisle.
Hint 3: The Spangram Clue
The golden word today is a singular term used to describe the materials an artist uses. It can also mean “middle” or a person who communicates with the beyond, but here, it’s all about the art.
Full Solutions and Theme Words for April 9, 2026
Ready to see the full list? Here are the six hidden theme words for today’s puzzle. Many of these words are longer than the average Strands answer, so they can be tricky to spot if you are only looking for four-letter words.
| Theme Word | Grid Location/Pathing |
|---|---|
| FRESCO | Starts at the bottom-left corner and snakes upward. |
| PASTEL | Found in the top-left quadrant. |
| ENAMEL | Occupies the top-right corner area. |
| ACRYLIC | A long vertical-leaning word on the right side. |
| TEMPERA | Starts near the top and weaves through the center-right. |
| WATERCOLOR | The longest word, spanning horizontally across the bottom half. |
The Spangram: MEDIUM
The Spangram for today is MEDIUM. To find it, look for the M located on the 4th row of the far-left column. Trace the letters straight across to the right side of the board. This word perfectly encapsulates the theme, as each of the other answers represents a different artistic medium used by painters throughout history.
Solving these daily puzzles is a great way to keep your cognitive skills sharp. If you found today’s art-themed challenge particularly difficult, you might want to look back at the NYT Strands Hints and Answer for 13 May 2026 to see how the game’s difficulty spikes and plateaus over time. Whether you used every hint or cleared the board in seconds, we hope this guide helped you complete your daily masterpiece!
