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Today’s puzzle highlights how everyday talk spreads quickly through shared stories and casual chatter.
Each theme word connects to common forms of information passed around in conversation.
The spangram captures the simple idea of messages moving from one person to another.
NYT Strands keeps bringing out the formidable playfulness with words and the puzzle of November 20. Today's theme is filled with chatter, noise, and gossip that goes through social circles. The grid indulges in fast-moving information, making today’s challenge interesting for puzzlers built around communication and conversation.
Today’s NYT Strands theme centers on the types of talk that spread quickly. The hint "Busybody buzz" refers to the informal information that goes around in neighborhoods. Every response symbolizes a type of gossip or a piece of talk that has not been confirmed. The theme captures the way conversations move, shift, and grow as they pass from person to person.
Use these structured hints to guide each discovery (starting letters + word length):
GO _ _ _ _ _ – 6 letters
RU _ _ _ – 5 letters
RE _ _ _ _ – 6 letters
SC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ – 10 letters
HE _ _ _ _ – 6 letters
Here are the full theme words hidden across the grid:
GOSSIP
RUMOR
REPORT
SCUTTLEBUTT
HEARSAY
Every single word corresponds with the main theme and traces the different ways information circulates. The word "SCUTTLEBUTT" takes the limelight as a playful entry and practically gets to the status of a spangram all by itself, with its extended length.
Spangram: SPREAD THE WORD
The spangram captures the entire concept behind the puzzle. All theme words connect to the idea of information being passed along, whether accurate or not. The phrase stretches across opposite ends of the board, unifying today’s word search with a clear narrative: the rapid movement of talk.
Scan the text for prefixes and suffixes that are frequently used, and perhaps that can lead you to the theme words.
Pay special attention to the paths with long diagonals or bends; the same goes for spangrams.
Use the theme hint to predict the class of words before confirming your guesses.
Investigate the groups of letters that might create words used in conversation or phrases that are often heard.
The November 20 NYT Strands puzzle blends humor, wordplay, and a familiar slice of everyday life. Each solution reflects how information travels and transforms. Daily NYT Strands puzzles provide a fun and enjoyable way to sharpen vocabulary, spot patterns, and practice flexible thinking. Check back each day for fresh themes and clever connections.
