The New York Times’ Strands puzzle for November 22, 2023, challenges players to uncover hidden words connected by a common theme. Today’s theme is Ivy League sports teams. If you’re stuck, here’s a breakdown of hints and the complete solution.
Understanding the Rules
Strands requires finding words of four or more letters within a grid. As you identify these words, the game reveals clues toward the overall theme. Finding three qualifying words unlocks one of the theme’s core terms. The ultimate goal is to locate all theme-related words, including the spangram – a long word that spans the entire grid, using every letter once.
Hints & Initial Words
To trigger in-game hints, begin by searching for common words within the grid. Some effective starting words include:
- SEAT, SEATS
- SITE
- BLUR, BEAT, BEATS
- RATS, STAR, STARE, STARES
- POUR, POURS
These words aren’t necessarily part of the theme but will unlock hints to guide you toward the Ivy League connection.
Complete Solutions
The answers for today’s Strands puzzle are:
- BEARS (Brown University)
- LIONS (Columbia University)
- TIGERS (Princeton University)
- QUAKERS (University of Pennsylvania)
- CRIMSON (Harvard University)
- BULLDOGS (Yale University)
The spangram – the long, grid-spanning word – is SPORTSTEAM. Locate the ‘S’ three letters right on the top row, then trace downwards to complete the word.
Past Challenges
Recent Strands puzzles have tested players with obscure topics. Some of the toughest include:
- Dated Slang (Jan 21): Required knowledge of older slang terms, with “PHAT” being the most challenging word.
- Thar She Blows! (Jan 15): A marine biology theme, where terms like “BALEEN” or “RIGHT” proved difficult for many.
These puzzles demonstrate the game’s range, sometimes demanding niche knowledge beyond general vocabulary.
The Strands puzzle is designed to test word recognition and theme association. Today’s Ivy League theme is straightforward once the connection is made, but initial discovery relies on strategic word-finding.
