Strands #986 for Saturday, November 14, 2026, in the order you need it: theme clue, board, progressive hints, then the complete solution behind a spoiler shield.
Our read of the puzzle: 7 theme words plus a 15-letter spangram; the spangram runs top to bottom; with this many words, most are short and easy to find once the theme clicks. The theme clue is a riddle more than a description, so if it is not landing, find three non-theme words to earn a hint and let the game show you a word.
Today's theme and board
Today's theme“Preschool fun”
The board, exactly as it appears in the game. Words can bend in any direction, and every letter is used exactly once.
OPILLOTESNAPPTOWTGILLAHEFOMHRLKWACAEISPLDEPJUMKR
Hints for today's Strands
Three levels of help, from shape to spelling. Stop as soon as the theme clicks.
Level 1 · The shape of itThe spangram has 15 letters and runs top to bottom. There are 7 theme words, with lengths of 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6 letters.
Level 2 · First lettersThe spangram starts with F. The theme words start with: G, J, M, S, S, T, W.
Level 3 · Two theme wordsTheme word 1 (6 letters)
GALLOP
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
TIPTOE
Today's Strands answers
The spangram and every theme word for Strands #986 are behind the button. Nothing is shown until you click.
▶ Reveal the answers to Strands #986
SpangramFOLLOWTHELEADER
Theme wordsGALLOPJUMPMARCHSKIPSPINTIPTOEWALK
The spangram on the boardOPILLOTESNAPPTOWTGILLAHEFOMHRLKWACAEISPLDEPJUMKR
Yellow: the spangram, FOLLOWTHELEADER · every other letter belongs to a theme word
Yesterday's Strands
Strands #985 on Friday, November 13 had the theme “Not a good sign”. The spangram was ROTTENLUCK and the theme words were BROKEN, FLOOR, MIRROR, SALT, SPILLED, THIRTEENTH. Our full write-up is still up.
How Strands works
Strands is a themed word search on a six-by-eight grid. Every letter belongs to exactly one answer: the theme words, which fit the day's clue, and the spangram, a word or phrase that describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. Words can turn in any direction but never cross. Find three words that are not part of the theme and the game lets you reveal one theme word as a hint. Today's puzzle was constructed by Christina Iverson and edited by Tracy Bennett at The New York Times.
A habit that pays: hunt for the spangram first. It is the longest answer, it has to span the board, and once it is in, the rest of the grid is cut into smaller regions that each hold a word or two.
Come back tomorrow for Strands #987. Until then, the rest of the Puzzles desk is one click away in the section menu.