The New York Times Strands puzzle #987 brings a superhero‑themed challenge to the board. With words linked to iconic characters from Gotham City, today’s puzzle invites players to explore the famous foes of the Dark Knight. 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 focuses on some of the most recognizable characters in comic book history. Every word is a well known enemy of Batman. You might spot one or two familiar names first, and that can help you figure out the Spangram. Once you see the pattern the rest will fall into place. It is a fun theme if you know the stories.
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: “Foiled again!”
- Spangram Hint: A notorious antagonist from Gotham City.
- Spangram Start/End Letters: Starts with B and ends with N, and has fourteen 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
BATMANVILLAIN
Here are all the theme words found on the board:
- FIREFLY
- JOKER
- PENGUIN
- RIDDLER
- SCARECROW
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 #986 (November 14, 2026):
- Spangram: FOLLOWTHELEADER
- Theme Words: GALLOP, JUMP, MARCH, SKIP, SPIN, TIPTOE
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 villain did you find first? The Joker is hard to miss but some of the others might have taken a 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.
