Word 1
- Vague
- The classic flex.
- Closer
- The muscle at the front of your upper arm.
- Letters
- Starts with BI, 6 letters.
Strands Hint Today for November 11, 2026 (#983)
Spoiler-safe hints for today's NYT Strands, from a gentle nudge to the full answer. Open one hint at a time and go back to the board. Nothing is revealed until you tap it.
Quick facts: Today's Strands (#983) has the theme "Work it out." There are seven words to find: six theme words and an 11-letter spangram that is two words run together, starting with M and ending with P. Hints below go from mild to strong.
Today's NYT Strands Theme: "Work it out"
Theme prompt
Work it out
It is an idiom for solving a problem, but today it is meant literally. Read it as a clue about exercise.
NYT Strands Hints Today (November 11), Mildest First
Seven levels. Start at 1 and stop as soon as you have enough to go on.
Read the clue as a reference to physical exercise, not to solving a puzzle. Picture a gym.Why it helps: it turns an idiom into a literal scene.
There are seven words to find, and one of them is the spangram. Together they use all 48 letters on the board, so no letter is left over.Why it helps: six regular words plus the spangram means a mix of short words and long ones.
The six regular words are all muscles that people train at the gym. Three of them are the short nicknames gym-goers use.Why it helps: it narrows the vocabulary before you look at a single letter.
The six regular words have 4, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 letters. The spangram has 11.Why it helps: two words are very short and one is very long, so lengths help you tell the paths apart.
The spangram has 11 letters and is two words run together. It starts with the letter M and ends with the letter P, and it crosses the board from one side to the other.Why it helps: knowing both end letters makes the path much easier to trace.
The spangram names a set of related muscles that you train together in a workout.Why it helps: a phrase that sums up the theme tells you the category without naming a single regular word.
BIHALAOBPEQUMU (spangram)
Why it helps: hunt for these pairs on the board and trace outward.
What Is Today's Strands Spangram?
11 letters, starts with M, two words run together. Tap a circle to uncover one letter, or uncover them all.
Strands #983 Theme Word Clues, One by One
Each word has a vague clue, a closer clue and its first letters. The word itself stays covered.
Word 2
- Vague
- The back of the legs.
- Closer
- The group of muscles at the back of your thigh.
- Letters
- Starts with HA, 10 letters. It is the longest regular word.
Word 3
- Vague
- A wide back muscle, shortened.
- Closer
- Short for the large muscles that run down the sides of your back.
- Letters
- Starts with LA, 4 letters. It is one of the two shortest words.
Word 4
- Vague
- The sides of your waist.
- Closer
- The muscles along your sides that help you twist your torso.
- Letters
- Starts with OB, 8 letters.
Word 5
- Vague
- Chest day.
- Closer
- Short for the muscles of the chest.
- Letters
- Starts with PE, 4 letters. It is one of the two shortest words.
Word 6
- Vague
- The front of your thighs.
- Closer
- Short for the large muscles at the front of your thigh.
- Letters
- Starts with QU, 5 letters.
Today's NYT Strands Answers (November 11, 2026)
Last stop. Uncover everything for Strands #983.
NYT Strands #983 answers for November 11, 2026: the spangram is MUSCLEGROUP (MUSCLE GROUP), and the six theme words are BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS and QUADS.
Spangram
Theme words
How Hard Is Today's Strands Puzzle (#983)?
This section names words from today's puzzle.
3.3 / 5MediumEditorial estimate, provisional
EasyModerateHardBrutal
- Why medium
- The theme is an idiom that can be read two ways, and the board mixes very short words like LATS and PECS with the 10-letter HAMSTRINGS and an 11-letter spangram.
- Theme access
- Moderate. "Work it out" usually means solving a problem, so some solvers start by thinking about puzzles. The gym idea clicks once you find a word such as QUADS or BICEPS.
- Where solvers get stuck
- LATS, PECS and QUADS are gym slang, so they are easy to overlook next to the full names. OBLIQUES is less common, and the spangram is a two-word phrase and not a single muscle.
- Best order
- Start with the short words LATS and PECS, or hunt for the spangram that starts with M and ends with P. Then HAMSTRINGS, the longest regular word, and the rest by elimination.
- Rating source
- The 3.3 / 5 score is our own editorial estimate, not measured NYT data. It may change once real solve results are available.
How we read the levels
- EasyA clear theme and short, familiar words on straight paths.
- ModerateAn average puzzle. The theme takes a moment to click, or a word or two is uncommon.
- HardA vague theme, rare vocabulary, or word paths that tangle.
- BrutalA hidden spangram and several words that cross each other awkwardly.
Want to know how we score each puzzle? Visit our Strands difficulty page
How to Solve Today's Strands: Strategy for #983
- Think of the gym. Ask which muscles you would train on arm day, chest day, back day and leg day.
- Start with the short words. LATS and PECS have only four letters each, so they are quick wins that clear space.
- Hunt for M and P. The spangram starts with M and ends with P, and it is a phrase made of two words.
- Earn a free hint. Three non-theme words of four letters or more unlock one (details in the how-to-play guide).
The next puzzle, #984, goes live at midnight in your time zone.
Strands Difficulty Trend: Last 30 Puzzles
Difficulty score per puzzle
One point per puzzle, today highlighted. The scale runs from 1 to 5. These are editorial estimates, not official NYT data.
Estimated fail rate per puzzle
A rough estimate of the share of solvers who would give up, calculated from each difficulty score. It is not measured player data.
Yesterday's NYT Strands Answers (#982, November 10)
Missed yesterday's puzzle? The clues come first so the answer is not spoiled if you have not played yet.
"Influentially online." The words were kinds of videos and posts that creators share.
Seven words, including a 14-letter spangram that is two words run together.
The spangram starts with C.
Yesterday's answer
Strands #982, November 10, 2026: the spangram was CONTENTCREATOR (CONTENT CREATOR). The theme words were DEMO, REACTION, REVIEW, SKIT, TUTORIAL and VLOG.
Yesterday's difficulty
4.1 / 5HardEditorial estimate
Harder than average. The theme left the category open, and the 14-letter spangram doubled back and ended on the same edge where it started. This score is our own estimate, not official NYT data.
Want the full breakdown? Read yesterday's Strands hint and answer
Past NYT Strands Answers
The last 10 puzzles, newest first.
| Date | Puzzle | Theme | Spangram | Theme words | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10 | #982 | Influentially online | CONTENTCREATOR | DEMO, REACTION, REVIEW, SKIT, TUTORIAL, VLOG | 4.1Hard |
| Nov 9 | #981 | Idle chatter | SHOOTTHEBREEZE | BANTER, CHINWAG, GABFEST, GOSSIP, SCHMOOZE | 3.2Medium |
| Nov 8 | #980 | Disciplined combat | MARTIALARTS | JUDO, KARATE, KICKBOXING, NINJUTSU, TAEKWONDO | 2.4Easy+ |
| Nov 7 | #979 | In the blink of an eye | WHATSTHEHURRY | FLASH, HURTLE, RUSH, STREAK, WHIZ, WHOOSH, ZOOM | 2.5Easy+ |
| Nov 6 | #978 | Autumn walk in the woods | FORESTFLOOR | ACORN, BRANCH, HUSK, LEAVES, MOSS, PINECONE, TWIG | 2.2Easy+ |
| Nov 5 | #977 | Handle with care | GIVEMEABREAK | BREAD, CHARACTER, DANCING, FAITH, GROUND, WIND | 3.4Medium |
| Nov 4 | #976 | Getting the job done | HUMANRESOURCES | LABOR, PEOPLE, PERSONNEL, STAFF, WORKFORCE | 3.3Medium |
| Nov 3 | #975 | I've got a song in my heart | BELTITOUT | BALLADEER, CHORISTER, CROONER, SINGER, VOCALIST | 3.1Medium |
| Nov 2 | #974 | High and mighty | MOUNTAINTOP | CLIFF, GLACIER, PEAK, RIDGE, SADDLE, SNOW, SUMMIT | 3.2Medium |
| Nov 1 | #973 | For the rest of the day | ZZZZZZZZ | CATNAP, DOZE, DROWSE, SIESTA, SLEEP, SLUMBER, SNOOZE | 2.3Easy+ |
Looking for an older puzzle? See all past Strands answers
Look Up Any Past Strands Puzzle by Date
Today's puzzle is not in the lookup. Use the hints above.
How to play NYT Strands
New to Strands? It is a word search with a twist: the words bend, there is no word list, and the theme is your only clue.
The goal
Each day's board hides a set of words that share one theme. Find every one of them and every letter on the board is used. There is no timer and no limit on guesses.
The board
The board is a grid of 6 columns and 8 rows, so 48 letters. Above the grid you see the day's theme as a short clue, such as "Work it out" The theme does not name the words. It tells you what kind of words to look for.
How to make a word
- Pick a starting letter by tapping it, or by pressing and dragging on a computer.
- Move to the next letter. It must touch the last one, in any of eight directions: up, down, left, right or diagonally.
- Keep going to spell the word. The path can bend, but it can never use the same letter twice in one word.
- Submit the word by double-tapping (or double-clicking) its last letter.
- If it is a theme word, it stays highlighted in blue. If it is not, it disappears.
The spangram
Every puzzle has one special word called the spangram. It describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board, either left and right or top and bottom. It can be one long word, like today's eleven-letter answer, or several words run together. When you find it, it turns yellow instead of blue. It is the best place to start, because once you know it the other words are far easier to guess.
Theme words, non-theme words and hints
Only words that fit the theme count as answers. You can still submit other real words. They will not turn blue, but each one with four or more letters counts toward a hint.
- Find three valid non-theme words of four or more letters.
- The game lets you use a hint. It highlights the letters of one theme word you have not found yet.
- The hint shows you where the word is, not the order of its letters. You still trace the path yourself.
Beginner strategy
- Read the theme twice. Think about what words could fit before you look at the letters.
- Look at the edges first. The spangram must touch two sides, so it often starts or ends in a corner or on an edge.
- Spot word endings. Letters that look like -ING, -ED, -ER or -LY often close a word and show you where it stops.
- Watch for double letters. Two identical letters next to each other limit the possible words a lot.
- Do not rush the last word. Because every letter is used exactly once, the last word is whatever is left, so you can solve it by elimination.
Strands Guides and Tips
New to the game, or stuck more often than you would like? Start with these two guides.
About NYT Strands
NYT Strands is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Each day has one theme, shown as a short clue, and a board of 48 letters in a 6 by 8 grid. Hidden in the board are the words that fit the theme, including one long word, the spangram, that crosses the board from edge to edge. A new puzzle appears every day at midnight in your local time zone. Today's is puzzle #983. You can play it on the New York Times Games site.
Strands vs Wordle vs Connections vs Spelling Bee
All four are daily NYT word games, but they ask for different skills. Strands is the only one where you search a board for words instead of guessing them.
| Game | What you do | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Strands | Trace touching letters to find hidden theme words | No guess limit. A hint after three non-theme words. |
| Wordle | Guess one five-letter word from color feedback | Six guesses |
| Connections | Sort 16 words into four groups of four | Four mistakes allowed |
| Spelling Bee | Make words from seven letters, always using the center letter | No limit. Ranks you by score. |
Rules can change, so check the NYT site for the current version of each game.
NYT Strands Hints Today: Frequently Asked Questions
What is today's Strands theme?
The theme for NYT Strands #983 on November 11, 2026 is "Work it out."
How many letters is today's Strands spangram?
It has 11 letters and is two words run together. It starts with M and ends with P.
What are today's Strands answers?
For #983 on November 11, 2026, the spangram is MUSCLEGROUP (MUSCLE GROUP). The theme words are BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS and QUADS.
What was yesterday's Strands spangram?
Yesterday's puzzle, #982, had the theme "Influentially online." The spangram was CONTENTCREATOR (CONTENT CREATOR).
How do I get a hint in Strands?
Find three words of four or more letters that are not theme words. The game then highlights the letters of one theme word you have not found.
What time does a new Strands puzzle come out?
A new Strands puzzle goes live every day at midnight in your local time zone.
How many words are in a Strands puzzle?
The board is 6 by 8, so 48 letters. Every letter belongs to a theme word or the spangram, which usually means six to eight words.
What is the difference between a theme word and the spangram?
Theme words fit the day's theme and turn blue when found. The spangram sums up the theme, touches two opposite sides of the board and turns yellow.
Is there a time limit or a limit on guesses in Strands?
No. You can take as long as you like and submit as many words as you want. Only valid theme words stay on the board.
Is looking up a Strands hint cheating?
No. Strands has its own hint system, and this page just breaks the help into smaller steps. The hints are ordered from mild to strong, so you can stop as soon as you have enough.
Where can I find hints for other NYT games?
This page covers Strands only. You can play Wordle and Connections on the NYT Games site, and both are linked in the comparison table above.