Struggling with today's NYT Strands puzzle? You're not alone! November 30th's #637 puzzle is a tricky one, with answers that seem to hide in plain sight. But don't worry, we've got the hints and answers you need to conquer this brain-teaser. And remember, you can always find daily hints for Strands (https://www.cnet.com/feature/daily-puzzle-answers/), The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles on our dedicated puzzle page.
Today's NYT Strands (https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands#link=%7B%22role%22:%22standard%22,%22href%22:%22https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands%22,%22target%22:%22_blank%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22,%22linkText%22:%22Strands%22%7D) is all about pairs... sort of. While the theme revolves around groupings, that doesn't necessarily give you clues on where to find the words in the grid. Some of these words are real head-scratchers, so let's dive into some hints to get you started.
If you're new to Strands, or just want a refresher on the rules, check out this article explaining how to play (https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/nyt-strands-is-the-latest-must-play-daily-online-game-heres-how-to-win/). It covers everything from the spangram to how hints work.
And of course, if you're also tackling Wordle, Connections, or the Mini Crossword, you can find all the answers and hints you need on CNET's NYT puzzle hints page (https://www.cnet.com/feature/daily-puzzle-answers/).
Speaking of Connections, did you know it recently celebrated its first anniversary? Check out this article on the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far (https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/nyt-connections-turns-one-these-are-the-5-toughest-puzzles-so-far/).
Okay, let's get to the good stuff. Here's a hint to get your gears turning for today's Strands puzzle:
Hint: Today's Strands theme is: Group membership. Think about how different animals (and maybe even people!) are organized.
Still stumped? Here's a slightly more specific clue: A murder of crows. (What is it with collective nouns, anyway?)
Clue Words to Unlock In-Game Hints:
Here's a clever trick: the game gives you hints if you find non-theme words! For every three words you find that are four letters or longer, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are some of the words I spotted to trigger those hints, but any valid words of four or more letters will do the trick:
- DEER, REED, FEET, SEWS, CLOP, FIRE, POCK, POLE, STEER, SCOW, DRIP, TOES, LOCK
Answers for Today's Strands Puzzle:
Alright, time for the answers! The whole point of the game is to uncover all the hidden words related to the central theme, including the elusive spangram – a theme word that stretches across the entire board. Once you've found all the words (the number can vary – I used to think there were always eight!), every single letter on the grid will be used. Here are the regular, non-spangram answers for today:
- ANTS, ARMY, COWS, HERD, LIONS, PRIDE, GEESE, FLOCK
Today's Strands Spangram:
And finally, the moment you've been waiting for... Today's Strands spangram is INITTOGETHER. To pinpoint it, start with the 'I' located four letters to the right on the bottom row, and then trace the word upwards.
So, did you find today's puzzle challenging? Which word gave you the most trouble? Let us know in the comments! And did you find the "Group membership" theme straightforward, or did it lead you down the wrong path initially? We're curious to hear your thoughts!
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