Here’s your guide to the 20 December NYT Strands puzzle, covering the theme, helpful hints, and solving tips to crack today’s grid without immediately revealing every solution for curious players.
NYT Strands is the New York Times’ daily word-search style puzzle that asks you to uncover hidden words connected by a central idea. On 20 December, the theme “All the trimmings” set a festive tone. The grid featured familiar, cozy vocabulary linked by a single spangram that neatly tied all the answers together, making this a satisfying seasonal solve.
20 December NYT Strands theme: “All the trimmings”
Today’s theme leaned heavily into holiday imagery, especially decorations you’d expect to see this time of year. The puzzle felt approachable, with clear, recognizable words and a spangram that was long but intuitive. If you were already thinking about festive décor, this one likely clicked quickly.
20 December NYT Strands: hints
- Think about common decorative items you see during the holidays.
- Most words are physical objects rather than abstract ideas.
- Look for words that might appear together in one familiar setting.
- The grid hides several short, straightforward words before the longer ones.
- Spangram ties the list together as the central holiday symbol.
20 December NYT Strands: answers
- Star (a classic topper)
- Angel (another traditional topper)
- Lights (wrapped around and glowing)
- Ribbon (used for wrapping and décor)
- Tinsel (shiny and festive)
- Ornament (hung and displayed)
Spangram
Christmas Tree
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
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal, so widen your thinking.
Final thoughts
The 20 December Strands puzzle felt comfortably easy to moderate, with a cheerful theme and familiar words. The spangram was especially satisfying to uncover. How many answers did you spot before everything fell into place?
