Strands #983 hints
The official theme was "Work it out". The hints below go from a plain-words reading of it to the spangram itself.
Hints revealed: 0
-
What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for the names of body parts that people try to strengthen and tone when they go to the gym, often shortened or plural.
Was this hint -
How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.
Was this hint -
A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
What name would you give to the set of body parts you train together on one day at the gym? That same name is the category all the other answers belong to.
Was this hint -
How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, H, L, O, P, Q.
Was this hint -
How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint: spangram length
The spangram has 11 letters and runs from left to right.
Was this hint
Play Strands #983
This is the exact grid from the NYT game. Drag through neighbouring letters (diagonals count) to form words. Stuck? The Hint button outlines one word for you.
Strands #983 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.8
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
- Rare letters on this board: Q. Words with them are a good place to start, since few words can use them.
- The 7 answers use all 48 letters, an average of 6.9 letters each.
Strands #983 answers
Careful: the answers for November 11, 2026 are below.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (4 letters, reveals the word)
LATS. It starts in row 8, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (4 letters, reveals the word)
PECS. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (5 letters, reveals the word)
QUADS. It starts in row 6, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters, reveals the word)
BICEPS. It starts in row 1, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (8 letters, reveals the word)
OBLIQUES. It starts in row 3, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (10 letters, reveals the word)
HAMSTRINGS. It starts in row 5, column 6, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters, reveals it)
MUSCLEGROUP. It starts in row 2, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board (full spoiler)
Spangram: MUSCLEGROUP
Theme words: BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS, QUADS
The clue 'Work it out' is a pun on exercising, since these are all the muscles you work out at the gym. BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS and QUADS are each a type of MUSCLEGROUP that people target with exercise.
Puzzle note
Try reading the clue as a pun before you hunt for letters. Work it out here means exercise, so the gym was the theme, and short muscle nicknames like LATS, PECS and QUADS were easy to spot once you thought that way. The spangram MUSCLEGROUP then tied it all together, though HAMSTRINGS being so long might have hidden for a moment.
On the board, the spangram MUSCLEGROUP stretches between the left and right edges.
What does OBLIQUES mean?
The muscles along the sides of your waist, running diagonally across the abdomen. They help you twist and bend sideways. Here they are one of the muscle groups you might train at the gym.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 10 | #982 | Influentially online |
| Nov 9 | #981 | Idle chatter |
| Nov 8 | #980 | Disciplined combat |
| Nov 7 | #979 | In the blink of an eye |
| Nov 6 | #978 | Autumn walk in the woods |
| Nov 5 | #977 | Handle with care |
| Nov 4 | #976 | Getting the job done |
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Nov 11
Strands #983 questions
What was the Strands theme on November 11, 2026?
The official clue for Strands #983 was "Work it out", with 6 theme words plus a spangram.
What was the Strands spangram on November 11, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #983 was MUSCLEGROUP, for the theme "Work it out".
What were the Strands theme words on November 11, 2026?
BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS, QUADS, plus the spangram MUSCLEGROUP.
What did the Strands #983 clue mean?
The clue 'Work it out' is a pun on exercising, since these are all the muscles you work out at the gym. BICEPS, HAMSTRINGS, LATS, OBLIQUES, PECS and QUADS are each a type of MUSCLEGROUP that people target with exercise.
How long was the Strands #983 spangram?
MUSCLEGROUP has 11 letters, and the 6 theme words started with B, H, L, O, P, Q.