NYT Strands Hints and Answers for November 28, 2025 (#635)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of November 28, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of November 28, 2025? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for November 28, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
If all else fails ...
Today’s theme is “If all else fails ...”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are C, D, E, F, L, S.
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 4, 7, 7, 8 and 9 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
MAKEAWISH
It is a single word of 9 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with M, ends with H.
AnswersAll theme words
- COIN4 letters
- STAR4 letters
- EYELASH7 letters
- LADYBUG7 letters
- FOUNTAIN8 letters
- DANDELION9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.