The New York Times daily Strands puzzle for November 4th (#611) challenges players to identify a set of interconnected words hidden within a grid of letters. This puzzle, like others in the series, requires both word-finding skills and an understanding of the day’s theme.
The Theme and Hints
Today’s Strands puzzle centers around the theme F-I-L-M. The key is to recognize film-related terms hidden within the grid. If you’re stuck, keep in mind the common phrase: “Lights, camera, action!”
To unlock in-game hints, find at least three words with four or more letters. For example, the puzzle’s author used words like “CHAT”, “HEAT”, and “MOVIE” to trigger the theme hints. Any valid four-letter-plus word will work.
The Answers
The non-spangram answers for today’s Strands puzzle are:
- HEAT
- BABE
- CARS
- CLUE
- JAWS
- DUNE
- HULK
- MILK
The spangram (a theme word spanning the grid) is FOURLETTERMOVIES. Begin at the “F” in the upper row, three letters from the left, and trace the letters down to complete the word.
Previous Difficulties
Some of the toughest Strands puzzles have included niche themes like dated slang (January 21st, with “PHAT” as a difficult word) or specialized vocabulary (January 15th, with “BALEEN” or “RIGHT”). These puzzles test players’ knowledge beyond common word associations.
Strands puzzles vary in difficulty, but solving them consistently requires strategy, word recognition, and an understanding of the daily themes.
