NYT Strands Hints and Answers Today: Friday, November 13, 2026 (#985)
Stuck on today's Strands? Start with the theme hint below and open the next step only if you need it. The spangram and the full word list stay hidden until you ask for them.
Today's theme clue
“Not a good sign”
Hint 1: What the theme is about (no spoilers)
Today's words come from old superstitions about things that are supposed to bring misfortune. The six theme words go together in three pairs.
Hint 2: Nudges for the theme words
- Something you look into every morning.
- What happens to that item if you drop it on a hard floor.
- A seasoning some people toss over their left shoulder.
- What happens to that seasoning when the shaker tips over.
- A level of a building that many hotels and towers skip.
- The number of that skipped level, written as a word.
Hint 3: Spangram clues (letters and position)
- Length: 10 letters (two words: 6 + 4)
- First letter: R
- Where it runs: Starts on the left edge of the board and ends on the right edge, finishing in the bottom row.
Hint 4: Show the spangram
Rotten luck means bad fortune, which is what all three superstitions are said to bring.
Hint 5: Show all the theme words
The six theme words make three classic bad-luck superstitions: a BROKEN MIRROR, SPILLED SALT and the THIRTEENTH FLOOR.
Finished Strands? Today’s NYT Connections hints and answers (#1251) start spoiler-free too.
How Strands Works
Strands hides a set of theme words in a 6-by-8 grid of letters. Words are formed by connecting neighbouring letters in any direction, including diagonally, and every letter on the board is used exactly once. One special word, the spangram, describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. Finding three non-theme words of four or more letters earns a hint that highlights the letters of one theme word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spoiler warning: the answers in this FAQ give away the full solution.
What is the NYT Strands spangram for Friday, November 13, 2026 (#985)?
The spangram is ROTTEN LUCK. Rotten luck means bad fortune, which is what all three superstitions are said to bring.
What are the theme words in Strands #985?
The theme words are BROKEN, MIRROR, SPILLED, SALT, THIRTEENTH, FLOOR, plus the spangram ROTTEN LUCK.
Looking for more? See all daily puzzle answers, or find every word hidden in a set of letters with our free Word Unscrambler.
Written by the Quiz Rebel Editorial Team
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