Strands fans were treated to a classic literary challenge today. The New York Times’ daily word-find puzzle leaned into “Shakespearean titles”, weaving famous plays into the grid. You had to trace familiar names from the Bard’s repertoire and uncover a thematic spangram that tied the whole set together. A fun puzzle for theatre lovers and casual solvers alike.

12 December 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Shakespearean titles”

Today’s theme highlighted some of Shakespeare’s most iconic and widely studied works. The puzzle balanced well-known comedies with slightly longer titles, requiring careful scanning across diagonals. It felt nostalgic, clever, and rewarding—especially once the full sequence of plays began to reveal itself.

12 December 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think of Shakespeare’s comedic plays—many of the included titles are crowd-pleasers.
  • Look for shorter fragments of longer titles; the grid breaks them into single thematic words.
  • The diagonals hide some of the trickier finds today.
  • Expect one play whose title begins with a number.
  • One word refers to a storm at sea.
  • The spangram ties everything together by referencing the playwright himself.

12 December 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Merry (as in The Merry Wives of Windsor)
  • Shrew (from The Taming of the Shrew)
  • Merchant (The Merchant of Venice)
  • Tempest (The Tempest)
  • Twelfth (Twelfth Night)
  • Midsummer (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Spangram

THE BARD
This spangram links all the theme words by pointing to William Shakespeare—famously known as “The Bard”—whose plays formed today’s puzzle.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
• You’re given a theme.
• The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
• Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
• Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Cleared paths often reveal the next target.
  4. Use hints wisely. Save them for when the grid truly goes cold.
  5. Think about synonyms or partial titles—Strands sometimes uses fragments rather than full names.

Final Thoughts

This was a warm, clever puzzle that felt moderately challenging but highly satisfying, especially for Shakespeare fans. The theme was tight, the words familiar, and the spangram delightful. How many titles did you spot before checking the list?