NYT Strands is the New York Times’ daily word-search style puzzle that challenges players to uncover theme-based words hidden across a letter grid. On 16 December 2025, the theme “Let me count the ways” set a warm, expressive tone. The puzzle blended descriptive words with an overarching spangram that neatly tied every idea together.

16 December 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Let me count the ways”

Today’s theme leaned into expression and admiration, encouraging solvers to think about the many ways we describe and celebrate others. The grid felt approachable, with familiar vocabulary, but spotting the longer descriptive words required careful scanning and a good feel for tone.

16 December 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think about words you’d use to compliment someone sincerely.
  • Many of the answers describe personal qualities rather than actions.
  • Look for longer descriptive words stretching across the grid.
  • Expect positive traits that often appear in praise or admiration.
  • The spangram ties all the compliments together under one clear idea.

16 December 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Kindhearted (showing care and compassion)
  • Funny (having a sense of humor)
  • Smart (quick-thinking or intelligent)
  • Charming (pleasant and likable)
  • Beautiful (pleasing inside or out)

Spangram

High praise

The spangram captures the shared idea behind every word, uniting them as different forms of admiration and appreciation expressed through positive, affirming descriptions.

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. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

The 16 December 2025 Strands puzzle leaned toward the easier side, thanks to its familiar and uplifting theme. It was a satisfying, feel-good grid that rewarded careful observation. How many compliments did you spot before the spangram clicked?