The New York Times daily Strands puzzle for November 11, 2023, challenges players to uncover a hidden theme within a grid of letters. This guide provides hints, clues, and the complete solution for those seeking assistance.
Puzzle Overview
Strands is a word-search puzzle where the goal is to identify words that fit a specific theme. The game reveals theme words incrementally as players discover enough non-theme words of four letters or longer. The final step involves finding a “spangram” – a theme word that stretches across the entire grid, using every letter once.
Today’s Theme
The theme for today’s Strands puzzle is Aesop’s Animals. The puzzle is based on animals from Aesop’s Fables, which are famous for their moral lessons.
Hints & Clues
If you’re stuck, consider these clues:
- The theme revolves around animals featured in classic moral tales.
- Think of animals often used to illustrate human flaws or virtues in fables.
Key Words to Unlock Hints
To trigger in-game hints, find any words with four or more letters. Here are some examples used to unlock today’s hints:
- BEND
- MOLE
- BLAM
- BRAN
- PAIL
- FALL
- MULE
- RIOT
- RISE
- ROSE
- RAMBLE
- SORT
Complete Solutions
The non-spangram theme words are:
- BULL
- GNAT
- HARE
- LION
- WOLF
- CRANE
- MOUSE
- TORTOISE
The spangram (the word that uses every letter in the grid) is FABLEDPAIR. To locate it, start with the “F” on the top row, three letters to the right, then trace the word diagonally downward.
Challenging Past Puzzles
Some previous Strands puzzles have been notably difficult. For instance, the January 21 puzzle featuring “Dated Slang” was tough for many, with “PHAT” being the hardest word to identify. Another challenge came on January 15, with the “Thar She Blows!” theme, where “BALEEN” or “RIGHT” stumped several players.
