Today’s Strands puzzle invites solvers from the US, UK and India into a theme rooted in spiritual tradition and global faith-language. It presents a 6 × 8 grid where the challenge is to find words tied to religious leadership and roles, and then uncover the spangram — that one long connecting phrase that weaves through the grid. The theme “Divinely inspired” signals a slightly more contemplative tone compared to a purely playful or pop-culture theme, appealing to those who enjoy both word puzzles and a touch of universal-concept thinking. Whether you spot the first theme word quickly or you’re pausing to scan for the spangram, this edition offers both clarity and depth, making it approachable and satisfying.
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is part of the daily puzzle suite from The New York Times in which you face a 6×8 grid of letters and a thematic hint. Your goal: connect letters (horizontally, vertically, diagonally) to form several words all related to the theme, and locate the “spangram” — a special long word or phrase that spans from one edge of the grid to another and uses many of the letters. Once you find that spangram and the theme words, the grid resolves. This game offers a blend of vocabulary recall, pattern-finding and thematic insight.
Today’s Theme – “Divinely inspired”
For November 19, 2025, the theme is “Divinely inspired.”
This theme directs you to words that represent spiritual or religious leadership – titles or roles drawn from diverse faith traditions. The theme steers your focus away from casual everyday words into a more specific conceptual domain, which both narrows and deepens your search.
Hints for Today (Non-Spoiler)
Here are some helpful nudges without fully giving everything away:
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One hint: “A person who can predict the future events.”
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The spangram is oriented vertically, running from bottom to top.
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The spangram begins with the letters “RE…”.
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Focus on words that are short titles of religious roles (four to six letters).
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Once you spot one role, many of the others will likely share stylistic similarities (three to six letters, often one-word titles).
Use these clues to start mapping the grid: search for familiar titles like “monk” or “priest”, then work outward to the spangram.
🚨 Spoiler Section: Answers & Spangram
Skip this section if you prefer to solve without full reveal.
🧵 Spangram: RELIGIOUSFIGURES (16 letters)
🐾 Theme Words:
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IMAM
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BUDDHA
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PRIEST
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RABBI
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PROPHET
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MONK
These words align with the theme nicely: each refers to a role of spiritual leadership across religions, and the spangram “RELIGIOUSFIGURES” neatly encapsulates the category.
Strategy Tips for Future Puzzles
Here are strategies you can apply for daily Strands puzzles:
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Inspect the theme hint first. The title often gives away the domain of the words (in today’s case, religion/spirituality).
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Spot the shortest plausible theme word early. For instance today, “IMAM”, “MONK”, or “RABBI” are shorter and easier to find, which anchors your search.
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Search for the spangram early. Since it touches two opposite edges, figuring out its direction (vertical/horizontal) helps collapse the search area. Today’s is vertical.
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After a theme word appears, check nearby letter sequences. Often letters unused around a found word belong to another theme word.
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Keep your scanning flexible. Words can bend, go diagonally, reverse direction. Don’t restrict yourself to straight lines only.
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Use the hint-unlock mechanism. If you find 3 non-theme words (four letters or more), you get an in-game hint. Use that when you’re stuck rather than too early, to avoid giving away too much.
Final Thoughts
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle (Nov 19, 2025) offers a thoughtful theme and clean execution. The “Divinely inspired” category is both clear and meaningful, and for solvers in the US, UK and India the words are accessible but not trivial. The spangram is long and vertical which helps once you guess its orientation. The puzzle strikes a good balance: not overly difficult, but satisfying enough to feel like an achievement.
Whether you conquered it quickly or needed a few nudges, reflect on how identifying one theme word like “monk” or “imam” unlocked access to the rest — that kind of pattern recognition is exactly what Strands rewards.
