Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (Puzzle #983). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Work it out"
What It Really Means
“Work it out” points to exercise. Hunt for names of the body parts you target during strength training.
Think About...
- What gets trained on arm day.
- The torso areas involved in pushing, pulling, and twisting.
- The front and back of your thighs.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Left to right across the board
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Row 2, letter 1
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think about how a trainer divides the body when planning workouts.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It names a set of related tissues that a particular exercise targets together.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is M, last letter is P
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MUSCLEGROUP
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: The upper-arm flex you show off.
Closer: Dumbbell curls target these at the front of your upper arms.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 6 letters total
Answer
BICEPS
Word 2
Vague: The working tissue behind your thighs.
Closer: Leg curls train these along the backs of your thighs.
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 10 letters total
Answer
HAMSTRINGS
Word 3
Vague: The broad pulling power on either side of your back.
Closer: Pull-ups train these broad back muscles, often described as wings.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 4 letters total
Answer
LATS
Word 4
Vague: The sides of your midsection that help you twist.
Closer: Side planks work these along the sides of your abdomen.
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 8 letters total
Answer
OBLIQUES
Word 5
Vague: The chest's pushing power.
Closer: Bench presses and push-ups train these chest muscles.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 4 letters total
Answer
PECS
Word 6
Vague: The powerful tissue at the front of your thighs.
Closer: Leg extensions target this four-part set at the front of each thigh.
Letter Clue: Starts with Q, 5 letters total
Answer
QUADS
Full Answers
Spangram: MUSCLEGROUP
Theme Words:
- BICEPS
- HAMSTRINGS
- LATS
- OBLIQUES
- PECS
- QUADS
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, with a direct exercise theme and a few shortened gym terms to recognize.
Trickiest Word: LATS is the likeliest sticking point because its shortened gym name gives less anatomical guidance than HAMSTRINGS or BICEPS.
Our Take: “Work it out” makes a tidy pivot from solving to strength training, and MUSCLEGROUP gives the list a clear unifying label. The mix of longer names such as HAMSTRINGS and compact gym terms such as PECS and QUADS adds variety without stretching the theme.