NYT Strands is the daily word-search-style puzzle from The New York Times that adds a clever twist to classic word finding. Each day revolves around a central idea, and today’s theme, “Big Bad Wolf,” ties together a set of related words along with a spangram that connects everything neatly across the grid.

21 December NYT Strands theme: “Big Bad Wolf”

Today’s puzzle leans heavily into a familiar fairy tale, making it approachable but still engaging. The theme feels playful and nostalgic, with words pulled straight from the story’s most memorable moments. The spangram is fairly long, but once spotted, it helps frame the rest of the grid and makes the remaining words easier to track down.

21 December NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think of a classic children’s story involving a very persistent villain.
  • Look for action words related to breath, force, and destruction.
  • Some answers are everyday objects tied to simple building materials.
  • Short, punchy words appear alongside slightly longer ones.
  • The spangram ties the entire fairy tale together and spans a large portion of the grid.

21 December NYT Strands: Answers

  • Blow (a key action in the story)
  • Down (often paired with destruction)
  • Straw (one fragile building material)
  • Bricks (the strongest house)
  • Sticks (another house material)
  • Puff (part of a famous phrase)
  • Huff (paired with puff)

Spangram

ThreeLittlePigs

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 broaden your thinking.

Final thoughts

The 21 December NYT Strands puzzle feels comfortably easy to moderate, thanks to its well-known theme. It’s a fun, nostalgic solve that rewards quick pattern recognition. How many words did you find before the spangram clicked?