Strands Answers — November 7, 2026

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

    Daily brief

    Strands

    Saturday, November 7, 2026

    ready

    Updated

    Today's hints

    Public theme clue: In the blink of an eye

    OOHSYRSWRTWRHTURHUWLHEIHHEAKZEOATSTHOZFLRHMHSAUS
    Theme-word lengths
    4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6
    Spangram shape
    Letters
    13
    Words
    1
    Orientation
    undisclosed
    Non-theme words
    375
    1. Today's official theme reads “In the blink of an eye.”
    2. Today's search area covers 48 cells in a 8×6 rectangle.

    Difficulty: 4

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

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

    Strands Puzzle

    Saturday, November 7, 2026

    Puzzle Theme

    In the blink of an eye

    Total Theme Words: 7

    Puzzle Grid

    O
    O
    H
    S
    Y
    R
    S
    W
    R
    T
    W
    R
    H
    T
    U
    R
    H
    U
    W
    L
    H
    E
    I
    H
    H
    E
    A
    K
    Z
    E
    O
    A
    T
    S
    T
    H
    O
    Z
    F
    L
    R
    H
    M
    H
    S
    A
    U
    S

    Solver Results

    Theme Words Found:

    • FLASH
    • HURTLE
    • RUSH
    • STREAK
    • WHIZ
    • WHOOSH
    • ZOOM

    Spangram:WHATSTHEHURRY

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

    The Strands spangram for Saturday, November 7, 2026 was WHATSTHEHURRY, with the theme “In the blink of an eye”.

    Automated analysis

    This puzzle had features that pointed both ways. The clue, "In the blink of an eye," is a familiar phrase, and all seven theme words (FLASH, HURTLE, RUSH, STREAK, WHIZ, WHOOSH and ZOOM) are synonyms for speed. That gives a clear target, and the words are short. They run from four to six letters, with a mean of five, compared with a recent mean of six point four. Short words are easier to hide in the grid, but they are also easier to spot once a few letters line up. The difficulty came from the size and the spangram. Seven theme words is more than the recent mean of five point eight. The spangram, WHATSTHEHURRY, is thirteen letters long against a recent mean of ten point nine. It is a phrase rather than a single word, and it does not describe speed directly. It plays on the clue's idea, which could make it harder to guess early. It also contains the word HURRY, and HURTLE shares the letters HUR, which could mislead a solver. Only RUSH had appeared before as a theme word, and the spangram had never appeared, so little here was familiar from past puzzles.

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

    Yesterday's full result

    2026-11-06

    Theme
    Autumn walk in the woods
    Spangram
    FORESTFLOOR
    Theme Words
    • Word
      ACORN
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      fruit of the oak tree: a smooth thin-walled nut in a woody cup-shaped base
    • Word
      BRANCH
      Scrabble Score
      13
      Wwf Score
      15
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a division of some larger or more complex organization
    • Word
      HUSK
      Scrabble Score
      11
      Wwf Score
      11
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
    • Word
      LEAVES
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      11
    • Word
      MOSS
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      7
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
    • Word
      PINECONE
      Scrabble Score
      12
      Wwf Score
      16
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the seed-producing cone of a pine tree
    • Word
      TWIG
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

    Source verification

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

    Checked 2026-11-07T07:30:02.115Z

    Recent answers

    • 2026-11-06 — theme: Autumn walk in the woods · spangram: FORESTFLOOR · themeWords: ACORN, BRANCH, HUSK, LEAVES, MOSS, PINECONE, TWIG · orientation: unknown · nonThemeWordCount: 963
    • 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

    Archive statistics

    Theme Word Length Distribution
    4
    379
    5
    521
    6
    469
    7
    361
    8
    244
    9
    161
    10
    95
    11
    47
    12
    11
    13
    4
    14
    1
    15
    1
    Spangram Length Distribution
    6
    15
    7
    20
    8
    37
    9
    49
    10
    69
    11
    66
    12
    45
    13
    47
    14
    24
    15
    13
    16
    4
    Orientation Split
    Unknown
    389
    Average Non Theme Word Count
    947.6

    How this brief was computed

    Hint classes: computed

    Generated lines used: 0

    Verification run: 20261107T074502Z

    ← 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