The hints for today’s NYT Strands are clear if you’re knowledgeable.

Strands, the New York Times‘ elegant word-search challenge, invites players to engage with a variation of the classic word search. Letters can be connected in any direction — upward, downward, sideways, or diagonally, allowing for shifts in direction that form distinctive shapes and patterns. Each letter within the grid contributes to an answer. A theme links all solutions, along with the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that encapsulates the day’s theme and stretches across the grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing an ambiguous hint and omitting the word list, Strands presents a puzzle that requires more time to solve than its other games, such as Wordle and Connections.

If you’re having difficulties or lack the time to spare for today’s puzzle, we have all the NYT Strands hints necessary for you to advance at your own speed.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Nosy neighbor news

The words pertain to narratives.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly articulated

These terms refer to the gossip circulating.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

This day’s NYT Strands spangram runs vertically.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

The spangram for today is Spread the Word.

NYT Strands word list for November 20

• Rumor

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