Strands Answers — November 6, 2026

    The theme, spangram, and all answers for this day’s Strands.

    Daily brief

    Strands

    Friday, November 6, 2026

    ready

    Updated

    Today's hints

    Public theme clue: Autumn walk in the woods

    FNGHCNSORIABSHROWROMUECTINSKSAPESELTECEVAFNOROOL
    Theme-word lengths
    4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8
    Spangram shape
    Letters
    11
    Words
    1
    Orientation
    undisclosed
    Non-theme words
    953
    Hint-earning words:
    • Word
      FORESLACKS
      Score
      19
    • Word
      CHARTACEOUS
      Score
      18
    • Word
      FORESLACK
      Score
      18
    • Word
      FLATWORMS
      Score
      17
    • Word
      CASEWORMS
      Score
      16
    • Word
      FLACKER
      Score
      16
    • Word
      FLATWORM
      Score
      16
    • Word
      FORECASTLES
      Score
      16
    • Word
      TWOCKER
      Score
      16
    • Word
      WORMINESSES
      Score
      16
    • Word
      CAIRNGORMS
      Score
      15
    • Word
      CASEWORM
      Score
      15
    • Word
      CATWORMS
      Score
      15
    • Word
      CERVELASES
      Score
      15
    • Word
      FLACKS
      Score
      15
    1. The puzzle gives you this theme: “Autumn walk in the woods.”
    2. You're searching a 8×6 board containing 48 letters.

    Difficulty: 4

    This band is shown with every input used to compute it.

    • theme-word count
    • word-length spread
    • non-theme inventory

    Strands Puzzle

    Friday, November 6, 2026

    Puzzle Theme

    Autumn walk in the woods

    Total Theme Words: 7

    Puzzle Grid

    F
    N
    G
    H
    C
    N
    S
    O
    R
    I
    A
    B
    S
    H
    R
    O
    W
    R
    O
    M
    U
    E
    C
    T
    I
    N
    S
    K
    S
    A
    P
    E
    S
    E
    L
    T
    E
    C
    E
    V
    A
    F
    N
    O
    R
    O
    O
    L

    Solver Results

    Theme Words Found:

    • ACORN
    • BRANCH
    • HUSK
    • LEAVES
    • MOSS
    • PINECONE
    • TWIG

    Spangram:FORESTFLOOR

    The spangram is the word that touches two opposite sides of the board.

    The Strands spangram for Friday, November 6, 2026 was FORESTFLOOR, with the theme “Autumn walk in the woods”.

    Automated analysis

    This Strands puzzle, with the clue "Autumn walk in the woods," looks like it leaned toward the easier side, though the facts only support a partial case. The theme is concrete and familiar, and the spangram, FORESTFLOOR, ties the whole set together at eleven letters. That length is almost identical to the recent average of ten point nine, so it was not unusually long to hunt for. None of the seven theme words, or the spangram, had appeared in earlier puzzles, so no one could lean on memory of a past answer. The theme words skew short. ACORN, HUSK, MOSS, and TWIG are five letters or fewer, and the mean length is five point three against a recent mean of six point five. Short words are generally easier to spot, though the facts do not measure that. PINECONE, at eight letters, is the longest. The puzzle also has seven theme words against a recent mean of five point seven, which means more words to find and a more crowded board. That extra count is the main thing that could have made it harder.

    Automated analysis — generated from this puzzle's data; may contain errors.

    Yesterday's full result

    2026-11-05

    Theme
    Handle with care
    Spangram
    GIVEMEABREAK
    Theme Words
    • Word
      BREAD
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
    • Word
      CHARACTER
      Scrabble Score
      16
      Wwf Score
      17
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
    • Word
      DANCING
      Scrabble Score
      11
      Wwf Score
      15
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
    • Word
      FAITH
      Scrabble Score
      11
      Wwf Score
      10
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
    • Word
      GROUND
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      11
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the solid part of the earth's surface
    • Word
      WIND
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      9

    Source verification

    Sources
    1
    Agreement
    single
    Confidence
    confirmed
    • 1: verified (0 ms)

    Checked 2026-11-06T07:30:02.896Z

    Recent answers

    • 2026-11-05 — theme: Handle with care · spangram: GIVEMEABREAK · themeWords: BREAD, CHARACTER, DANCING, FAITH, GROUND, WIND · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 784
    • 2026-11-04 — theme: Getting the job done · spangram: HUMANRESOURCES · themeWords: LABOR, PEOPLE, PERSONNEL, STAFF, WORKFORCE · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 783
    • 2026-11-03 — theme: I've got a song in my heart · spangram: BELTITOUT · themeWords: BALLADEER, CHORISTER, CROONER, SINGER, VOCALIST · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 1173
    • 2026-11-02 — theme: High and mighty · spangram: MOUNTAINTOP · themeWords: CLIFF, GLACIER, PEAK, RIDGE, SADDLE, SNOW, SUMMIT · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 1028
    • 2026-11-01 — theme: For the rest of the day · spangram: ZZZZZZZZ · themeWords: CATNAP, DOZE, DROWSE, SIESTA, SLEEP, SLUMBER, SNOOZE · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 619
    • 2026-10-31 — theme: It's in the bag · spangram: TRICKORTREAT · themeWords: APPLE, CANDY, FANGS, RING, STICKER, TOOTHBRUSH · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 939
    • 2026-10-30 — theme: All charged up · spangram: PLUGGEDIN · themeWords: CURRENT, ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, JUICE, POWER, SPARK · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 621
    • 2026-10-29 — theme: Double, double toil and trouble · spangram: CAULDRON · themeWords: BLOOD, BUBBLE, FIRE, LIZARD, NEWT, SNAKE, TONGUE, WORM · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 735
    • 2026-10-28 — theme: Comedy club · spangram: FUNNYBUSINESS · themeWords: BURLESQUE, FARCE, IMPROV, SKETCH, SLAPSTICK · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 718
    • 2026-10-27 — theme: Who ya gonna call? · spangram: EXTERMINATOR · themeWords: ANTS, COCKROACHES, MICE, RATS, TERMITES, TICKS · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 1160
    • 2026-10-26 — theme: Please, be my guest! · spangram: HOSPITALITY · themeWords: ENTERTAIN, HOST, INVITE, MEET, RECEIVE, WELCOME · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 680
    • 2026-10-25 — theme: Something to build on · spangram: FOUNDATIONS · themeWords: FRAMEWORK, SCAFFOLDING, SKELETON, STRUCTURE · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 861
    • 2026-10-24 — theme: Re-fresh-ing · spangram: LAUNDRYDAY · themeWords: BASKET, DETERGENT, DRYER, IRON, RACK, SINK, WASHER · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 1053
    • 2026-10-23 — theme: None of your beeswax! · spangram: BUSYBODY · themeWords: EAVESDROPPING, INQUISITIVE, NOSY, PRYING, SNOOPY · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 600

    Archive statistics

    Theme Word Length Distribution
    4
    380
    5
    519
    6
    471
    7
    362
    8
    243
    9
    161
    10
    95
    11
    47
    12
    11
    13
    4
    14
    1
    15
    1
    Spangram Length Distribution
    6
    15
    7
    20
    8
    38
    9
    49
    10
    69
    11
    66
    12
    45
    13
    46
    14
    24
    15
    13
    16
    4
    Orientation Split
    Unknown
    389
    Average Non Theme Word Count
    947.5

    How this brief was computed

    Hint classes: computed

    Generated lines used: 0

    Verification run: 20261106T074502Z

    ← Browse all past Strands answers

    How Strands Works

    Strands is a word search game within a 6x8 grid of letters. Players must find words that fall under a specific theme.

    • The board must be filled entirely to complete the puzzle - no words overlap
    • Each game includes a challenge word called the "spangram" that touches two opposite sides of the board
    • All words must be at least 4 letters long
    • Words can be formed by connecting adjacent letters (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally)

    More Strands help

    Strands Tips & StrategyStrands Archive

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the spangram in NYT Strands?

    The spangram is a special word in Strands that spans from one side of the board to the opposite side. It's usually related to the puzzle's theme and is highlighted in yellow when found. Every Strands puzzle has exactly one spangram.

    How do I play NYT Strands?

    Connect adjacent letters (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) to form words related to the daily theme. Find all theme words plus the spangram to complete the puzzle. The entire board must be filled with no overlapping words.

    How many words are in a Strands puzzle?

    Each Strands puzzle typically contains 6-8 theme words plus one spangram. The exact number varies daily but all words must fit together to fill the entire 6x8 grid without overlapping.

    Strands strategy & tips

    Start from the theme, anchor on the spangram

    Every Strands board has a theme (shown as the day’s clue) and one spangram — a special word or phrase that touches two opposite sides of the grid and sums up the theme. Finding the spangram early is the fastest way in, because it confirms what the theme really means and frees up the rest of the board.

    Read the clue literally and figuratively. Strands clues are often puns, so “The ears have it” might point to parts of an ear or to homophones of “hear.” Decide which reading the board supports before you start tracing words. Our Strands tips guide covers spangram-hunting in more detail.

    How letters connect

    Words are formed by connecting adjacent letters — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — and a single letter can bend the path in any direction. Every letter on the board belongs to exactly one theme word or the spangram, with no leftovers and no overlaps, so the grid is effectively a perfect packing puzzle.

    Because there are no spare letters, a letter you can’t fit into any obvious word is a strong signal you’re missing a longer or less obvious theme word.

    Use the hint system on purpose

    Found a valid English word that isn’t a theme word? It’s not wasted — every three non-theme words you find unlocks a hint that highlights where one theme word lives. If you’re stuck, deliberately hunting ordinary words is a legitimate way to earn a hint and break the logjam.

    This makes Strands forgiving: there’s no penalty for guessing, only progress toward hints, so explore freely when the theme isn’t clicking.

    Scan the board efficiently

    • Look for long words first — theme words are often 6+ letters, and long words eat up more of the board, leaving fewer ambiguous letters.
    • Work from the corners and edges inward; edge letters have fewer neighbors, so their possible words are easier to enumerate.
    • Once you place the spangram, the letters it consumes split the remaining board into smaller regions you can solve independently.
    • If two theme words seem to compete for the same letters, the longer interpretation is usually correct (no letter goes unused).

    When you’re truly stuck

    Re-read the theme and brainstorm a list of words that fit it before touching the board — then look for those words’ letters rather than scanning blindly. If a word you’re sure fits the theme won’t trace on the board, it’s the wrong synonym; Strands wants the specific set the setter chose.

    A new Strands publishes daily at midnight Eastern with a fresh theme and spangram — and you can revisit any earlier board in the Strands archive.

    More NYT puzzle help