The New York Times Strands puzzle #988 brings a growth‑themed challenge to the board. With words linked to getting bigger or increasing in size, today’s puzzle invites players to explore all the different ways things can expand. If you want to protect your perfect streak without using the in‑game hints, we have you covered.
Below, you will find today’s theme clue, targeted hints for the Spangram, and the complete solution at the bottom of the page.
Today’s Strands Strategy and Commentary
Today’s puzzle is all about getting bigger. Every word describes something growing or taking up more space. Some words are about slow steady increase while others mean swelling or suddenly getting larger. Once you spot one word the rest will feel familiar. The Spangram is a common phrase that says something is just getting bigger and bigger.
Today’s Strands Hints
To get you started without spoiling the specific words, use these clues to navigate the board:
- Today’s Official Theme Clue: Getting bigger or increasing in size.
- Spangram Hint: A lighthearted way to say something is expanding or swelling up.
- Spangram Start/End Letters: Starts with T and ends with L, and has thirteen letters in total.
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: The Spangram answer and full list of theme words are shown below. Do not scroll down if you still want to solve it yourself and follow the hints and clue above.
Today’s Strands Answers
All theme words are listed below, along with the official Spangram answer.
⚠️ WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
👉 Click to Reveal the Spangram
The Spangram word today is
THATSJUSTSWELL
Here are all the theme words found on the board:
- GROW
- SURGE
- BLOAT
- ENLARGE
- EXPAND
- INFLATE
Yesterday’s Answer
Catch up on yesterday’s solution. This record shows the Spangram and theme words from the previous game, so you can compare results or double check the past grid.
Below is yesterday’s answer for NYT Strands hints and answers for puzzle #987 (November 15, 2026):
- Spangram: BATMANVILLAIN
- Theme Words: FIREFLY, JOKER, PENGUIN, RIDDLER, SCARECROW
For older solutions, see our Strands answers archive.
More New York Times Games
We also provide solutions for other New York Times games, including Wordle and NYT Connections. You can visit our complete list of Wordle answers for November and check out today’s NYT Connections hints and answers.
How Did You Do?
Which word did you spot first? GROW felt easiest for many players but SURGE or BLOAT might have taken an extra moment. Share your experience in the comments below.
A new puzzle becomes available every midnight based on your local time zone. It appears at different times around the world, including United States UTC-4 to UTC-8, Philippine Standard Time UTC+8, Australia UTC+8 to UTC+11, and New Zealand UTC+12 or UTC+13.
Check back tomorrow for more Strands hints, strategy tips, and the next answer.
