The November 17th New York Times Strands puzzle centers around canine companions and their roles. This edition isn’t overly difficult, offering a straightforward theme for players.
Understanding the Puzzle
Strands is a word-search puzzle where players identify themed words hidden within a grid of letters. The objective is to uncover all the theme words, including a “spangram” – a long word that spans the entire grid. The puzzle provides hints as you discover clue words of four or more letters, revealing theme terms one by one.
Hints and Clue Words
The theme for today’s puzzle is working dogs. If you’re stuck, consider words related to jobs dogs perform.
To unlock in-game hints, begin by finding any words of four letters or more. Some starting words from today’s puzzle include:
- DIRE
- GROW
- GROWN
- SIEVE
- KING
- RING
- DOGS
- GODS
Today’s Solutions
The theme words for this Strands puzzle are:
- GUARD
- GUIDE
- RESCUE
- HERDING
- SERVICE
- THERAPY
The Spangram
The spangram – the longest word that uses every letter in the grid – is WORKINGDOGS. It begins with the “W” three rows to the right and four letters down, extending horizontally.
Quick Tips for Success
To improve your Strands strategy:
- Expand on Existing Words: Try adding letters like “S” to words you’ve already found to create new possibilities.
- Look for Related Terms: Once you identify a theme word, scan the grid for other words connected to the same concept.
- Use Hints Wisely: If you’re stuck, find three additional clue words to illuminate the letters of a hidden theme word.
These tips will help you solve the puzzle more efficiently. The key is patience and systematic exploration of the letter grid, leveraging the puzzle’s built-in hint system.
