NYT Strands is the daily word-search-style puzzle from the New York Times that challenges you to uncover theme-linked words hidden across a letter grid. For 16 January 2026, the theme “DC crusader” brought Gotham City vibes, iconic characters, and familiar symbols together, all connected by a powerful spangram that tied the entire puzzle into one legendary figure.

16 January 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “DC crusader”

Today’s theme leaned heavily into comic-book territory, especially fans of a certain dark, brooding hero. The puzzle mixed characters, concepts, and locations associated with this crusader, making it approachable yet satisfying. The spangram was fairly straightforward, but some of the supporting words required thinking beyond just villains and sidekicks.

16 January 2026 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think of Gotham City and the characters who define it.
  • Look for both heroes and villains linked to the same universe.
  • Some words aren’t people, but objects or places tied to the crusader’s identity.
  • Expect a mix of short and longer words scattered across the grid.
  • The spangram ties all the clues together into one iconic name.
  • Once you spot a key character, nearby letters often reveal related terms.

16 January 2026 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Joker (the iconic archenemy)
  • Justice (a core motivation behind the crusade)
  • Vengeance (a driving force of the hero’s mission)
  • Penguin (a classic Gotham villain)
  • Robin (the trusted sidekick)
  • Cape (a signature part of the hero’s look)
  • Manor (the famous home base)

Spangram

BATMAN
The spangram sums up the entire puzzle by naming the legendary DC hero himself, neatly connecting the villains, allies, ideals, and symbols that define his world and mission.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:

  • You’re given a theme.
  • The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
  • Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
  • Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

How to get and use hints

Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:

  • To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
  • Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
  • When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.

Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final words

The 16 January 2026 Strands puzzle felt comfortably moderate, with a relatable theme and smart word choices. Once the spangram clicked, everything else fell into place nicely. How many answers did you spot before needing hints?

Come back tomorrow for a fresh grid and theme — and tell us in the comments which word stumped you the most today!