NYT Strands continues to deliver its clever mix of word-finding and thematic deduction, and the 28 November 2025 puzzle was no exception. Today’s theme, “If all else fails ...,” centered on small rituals and symbols tied to making wishes. The grid blended everyday objects, nature cues, and a neatly woven spangram that pulled the whole idea together, making for a fun and thoughtful solve.

28 November 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “If all else fails ...”

Today’s theme leaned into small rituals and little moments people rely on when hoping for luck — the kinds of tiny acts tied to wishing. The puzzle blended everyday objects and nature-based symbols, with a spangram that neatly tied the hopeful tone together.

28 November 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think of tiny rituals and symbols people use to ask for luck or make a wish.
  • Look for short, distinctive letter clusters first — they often anchor longer nearby words.
  • Scan for natural motifs (plants, insects, sky objects) as well as objects you might toss or spot.
  • Check diagonals and reverse directions; Strands enjoys hiding common wishes at odd angles.
  • Spangram: MAKE A WISH ties the list together — the extra letters spell out the puzzle’s theme.

28 November 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • fountain (a classic place for tossing a coin and making a wish)
  • coin (small and often the thing you drop into water)
  • eyelash (a tiny superstition; finders of fallen lashes make wishes)
  • star (spotting one at night is a familiar wish-making cue)
  • ladybug (a lucky insect in many folk traditions)
  • dandelion (blow the seeds and wish — a Strands favorite)

Spangram

MAKE A WISH

The spangram MAKE A WISH uses every extra letter in the grid to connect the answers — it's the thematic punch: wishing rituals and symbols across the puzzle and beyond too.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
• You’re given a theme.
• The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
• Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
• Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6-8 theme words.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

This puzzle played friendly-to-moderate: the theme made connections feel intuitive, but hidden angles kept it interesting. Enjoyed the clever tie of small rituals — how many did you find?