My coffee was still too hot to drink when I opened today's Strands, which gave me a useful excuse to stare at the grid for a minute longer. The clue, "Work it out", sounds straightforward, but I found myself weighing up a couple of meanings before committing to a direction. Was this about solving something, or doing something rather more energetic?
That's the pleasure of a neat little clue like this: the words are familiar, but the interpretation does the heavy lifting. If you're hovering over your first few letters, give yourself a moment to explore both possibilities. There's no prize for finishing before the kettle has cooled.
This page covers NYT Strands #1179 for Wednesday, November 11, 2026. You will find the theme clue, a spoiler free hint, a stronger hint, the spangram and every theme word, in that order. Scroll slowly and stop where you like.
Today's Strands theme
The official clue for Wednesday, November 11, 2026 is "Work it out". There are 6 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 11 letters and begins with the letter M.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 10.
- The theme words start with these letters: B, H, L, O, P, Q.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| B | 6 letters | Bi... |
| H | 10 letters | Ha... |
| L | 4 letters | La... |
| O | 8 letters | Ob... |
| P | 4 letters | Pe... |
| Q | 5 letters | Qu... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1179 is MUSCLEGROUP.
All NYT Strands answers for November 11, 2026
- BICEPS (6 letters)
- HAMSTRINGS (10 letters)
- LATS (4 letters)
- OBLIQUES (8 letters)
- PECS (4 letters)
- QUADS (5 letters)
Spangram: MUSCLEGROUP. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Start by testing the clue's physical meaning rather than hunting for words about calculations or solutions. Think of everyday vocabulary you might hear during an exercise class, including informal shortened terms as well as longer names. Several likely candidates may have plural endings, so check how an S connects to nearby letters, but don't assume every S marks a finish. Once you find a secure word, use its occupied cells to narrow the remaining routes. Save the broad linking phrase for when the category becomes clearer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Wednesday, November 11, 2026, puzzle #1179, is MUSCLEGROUP. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 6 theme words today, plus the spangram.
How do you earn hints in Strands?
Find any valid non theme word of at least four letters. Every three of those unlocks one hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word without ordering them for you.
What time does a new Strands puzzle appear?
A new puzzle goes live at midnight in your local time zone, so this page is updated every morning with the new board.
Sources
- NYT Games, Strands puzzle #1179 for Wednesday, November 11, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
