NYT Strands #983 answer & hints: Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). · Puzzle editor: Tracy Bennett.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Strands puzzle #983 of Wednesday, November 11, 2026: 2 spoiler-free hint tiers that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

Today's Strands theme got you stuck? Start with the theme explainer, then reveal first letters, the spangram, and finally the full solution.

Strands is a themed word search: find the theme words hidden in the letter grid, plus the spangram — a special answer that touches two opposite sides of the board and names the theme. Every letter gets used exactly once.

Strands hints (November 11, 2026)

1Understanding the theme

The official clue is “Work it out”. There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.

2First letters of the theme words

B, H, L, O, P, Q

Strands answers — November 11, 2026 (#983)

★The spangram

MUSCLEGROUP (11 letters).

★All of today's Strands answers

Spangram: MUSCLEGROUP
Theme words: BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS, QUADS

The puzzle, explained

"Work it out" brilliantly doubles as both a gym mindset and the puzzle's literal instruction—you had to identify all the muscle groups you actually use when you hit the gym. The spangram MUSCLEGROUP ties everything together perfectly, since every answer is a different muscle group you'd target during a workout: your BICEPS and PECS for upper body, LATS and OBLIQUES for your core, and QUADS and HAMSTRINGS for your legs. OBLIQUES is probably the trickiest one to spot since people don't think about their side abs as much as the obvious mirror muscles, but they're absolutely essential for any real workout routine.

Next in today's routine: Spelling Bee → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle daily at midnight US Eastern Time (5am UK). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Strands on the official site.

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Strands — common questions

What is a spangram in Strands?

The spangram is the special theme word or phrase that touches two opposite sides of the board. It describes the puzzle's theme and always exists in every Strands puzzle.

How do I earn hints in Strands itself?

Finding three non-theme words in the grid earns one in-game hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word.

Can theme words overlap in Strands?

No — every letter in the grid is used exactly once across the theme words and spangram, which is a powerful deduction tool late in the puzzle.

Previous Strands puzzles

Full Strands archive (185 puzzles) → · How to play Strands (spangram tactics) →