Strands hints: Nov 15, 2026
Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Nov 15, 2026 (2026-11-15) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.
Puzzle #987 · 2026-11-15
Step through the Strands hints
Theme clue: Foiled again!
5 theme words and one spangram. Reveal only the help you need.
Rows run from 1 to 8, top to bottom; columns from 1 to 6, left to right. A path may move to a neighbouring cell, including diagonally.
Layer 1 · Theme clue
Foiled again!
Layer 2 · Answer lengths and spangram direction
Theme answer lengths: 7, 5, 7, 7, 9 letters.
The spangram has 13 letters. Connects the left and right edges.
Layer 3 · Where to start looking
Choose one word without revealing the others.
Theme word 1: show a starting point
Starts with F at row 6, column 2.
Theme word 2: show a starting point
Starts with J at row 2, column 2.
Theme word 3: show a starting point
Starts with P at row 8, column 5.
Theme word 4: show a starting point
Starts with R at row 1, column 3.
Theme word 5: show a starting point
Starts with S at row 8, column 1.
Layer 4 · Individual theme answers and paths
Theme word 1: reveal answer
FIREFLY
Theme word 1: reveal path
(6, 2) → (7, 2) → (8, 2) → (8, 3) → (7, 3) → (7, 4) → (8, 4)
Theme word 2: reveal answer
JOKER
Theme word 2: reveal path
(2, 2) → (1, 2) → (1, 1) → (2, 1) → (3, 1)
Theme word 3: reveal answer
PENGUIN
Theme word 3: reveal path
(8, 5) → (7, 5) → (8, 6) → (7, 6) → (6, 5) → (5, 6) → (6, 6)
Theme word 4: reveal answer
RIDDLER
Theme word 4: reveal path
(1, 3) → (1, 4) → (2, 5) → (3, 6) → (2, 6) → (1, 5) → (1, 6)
Theme word 5: reveal answer
SCARECROW
Theme word 5: reveal path
(8, 1) → (7, 1) → (6, 1) → (5, 1) → (5, 2) → (4, 2) → (4, 3) → (4, 4) → (4, 5)
Layer 5 · Spangram help
Show the spangram’s starting point
13 letters. Starts with B at row 4, column 1.
Reveal the spangram
BATMANVILLAIN
Reveal the spangram’s path
(4, 1) → (3, 2) → (3, 3) → (2, 3) → (2, 4) → (3, 4) → (3, 5) → (4, 6) → (5, 5) → (5, 4) → (5, 3) → (6, 3) → (6, 4)
Layer 6 · Solved grid and all answers
Blue cells = theme words. Gold cells = spangram.
Theme answers: FIREFLY, JOKER, PENGUIN, RIDDLER, SCARECROW. Spangram: BATMANVILLAIN.
Theme clue
Foiled again!
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