Strands · Hints and answers
Strands hints and answers for Friday, January 16, 2026
Friday's Strands board has seven theme words plus a 6-letter spangram, under the NYT clue "DC crusader". The ladder below climbs from the theme to the spangram - take one hint at a time.
Hints, in order
Hint 0 of 3Tap to show one hint at a time.
Hint 1 of 3
The NYT clue is "DC crusader" - take it literally before you take it sideways. The spangram runs 6 letters and touches opposite sides of the board.
Hint 2 of 3
The seven theme words run 4 to 9 letters (lengths: 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9). Every one of them belongs to the family the clue points at.
Hint 3 of 3
The spangram starts with B and ends with N. It is BATMAN - find it and the rest of the board falls into place.
Spangram and theme words
The spangram first, then all seven theme words.
SPANGRAM
BATMAN
CAPETheme word
JOKERTheme word
JUSTICETheme word
MANORTheme word
PENGUINTheme word
ROBINTheme word
VENGEANCETheme word
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