Strands archive · Puzzle #978
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — November 6, 2026 (#978)
NYT Strands hints for November 6 (November 6, 2026): spoiler-controlled theme nudge and spangram clue for puzzle #978. Answers are here if you need them, but nothing shows until you open it.
Strands clue
“Autumn walk in the woods”
Look for words related to this theme:
A fall stroll among the trees, with your eyes on the ground.
Spoiler control
Choose how much to reveal
Open the first clue for a gentle push. Keep going only if you need more.
Letters match the in-game board Blue path = theme word Yellow path = spangram
1. Theme nudge spoiler-free
A fall stroll among the trees, with your eyes on the ground.
2. Spangram clue no answer yet
The layered ground under a canopy, where the rest of these collect.
- Length: 11 letters
- Starts with: F
Reveal letter by letter
FORESTFLOOR
3. Theme-word hints no answers yet
First letter and a nudge for each theme word — open the final tier only if you want the full answers.
-
Starts with A · 5 letters
The nut an oak drops, still wearing its little cap.
-
Starts with B · 6 letters
A woody limb that can fall from a tree.
-
Starts with H · 4 letters
The dry outer shell left around a seed or nut.
-
Starts with L · 6 letters
Foliage that carpets the ground once it turns and falls.
-
Starts with M · 4 letters
A soft green growth on damp logs, rocks, and soil.
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Starts with P · 8 letters
The woody seed case a conifer lets go.
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Starts with T · 4 letters
A thin woody shoot that snaps underfoot.
4. Reveal everything full spoilers
Spangram: FORESTFLOOR
Theme words:
- ACORN
- BRANCH
- HUSK
- LEAVES
- MOSS
- PINECONE
- TWIG
How these Strands hints work
PuzzleNudge is built for solvers who want help without ruining the board. Every NYT Strands puzzle on this page uses spoiler control: start with a theme nudge that does not reveal any letters, then open the spangram clue if you need more direction. Open first-letter word hints, or jump to the full answer list only when you are ready to stop guessing.
Nothing appears until you choose to open it — so you can skim today's hints on the go, share the page with a friend, or grab a single clue and leave. Prefer the official game? Play Strands at nytimes.com/games and come back here only when you want a nudge.
How NYT Strands works
Strands is the New York Times' daily word-search puzzle. Each day you get a 6×8 grid of 48 letters and a short theme — your job is to find every word that fits the theme plus one special spangram that spans the board from edge to edge.
- Connect adjacent letters in any direction, including diagonals.
- Words can change direction mid-path, but each letter is used once.
- Every cell on the board belongs to exactly one answer.
- Theme words highlight in blue; the spangram turns gold when found.
- Find three valid non-theme words of four or more letters to earn one in-game hint that highlights a theme word.
Want the full rule set and beginner tips? Read our how to play NYT Strands guide. For past boards and puzzle numbers, browse the Strands archive or check archive stats.
NYT Strands hints for November 6 — common questions
What are the NYT Strands hints for November 6?
NYT Strands hints for November 6 (puzzle #978, November 6, 2026) include a theme nudge and spangram clue — reveal each step in the solver above only when you need it.
Where are the Strands answers for November 6?
Strands answers for puzzle #978 are behind spoiler control on this page. Start with hints and first-letter word nudges, or open the final tier when you want every answer at once.
What is the Strands theme for puzzle #978?
The theme for puzzle #978 (November 6, 2026) is “Autumn walk in the woods”.
What is the spangram?
The spangram is 11 letters and starts with F. Open the spangram clue in the spoiler control above for a nudge — reveal the word itself only inside the solver when you are ready to stop guessing.
How do I get help on Strands #978 without spoiling the puzzle?
Use the spoiler slider: start with the theme nudge (no letters revealed), open the spangram clue if you are stuck, then open first-letter word hints without seeing the answers. Puzzle #978 has 7 theme words plus the spangram — the full list is the last tier, only when you want to stop playing.
Where can I find more Strands puzzles?
Browse the Strands archive for every past puzzle, or see today's Strands hints for the latest board.
Looking for this puzzle by date? /strands/2026-11-06 redirects to the canonical page for #978. Also try searches for November 6, 11/6/26, 11-6-26, 11 6 26, 11/6/2026, or puzzle #978.
Also stuck on Connections, Wordle, Spelling Bee or Mini Crossword ?
This puzzle, in a nutshell
The theme is a literal woodland stroll, so acorns and leaves show up early. HUSK is the quieter find, and FORESTFLOOR is the span that names the ground they share.