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, “Pass it along,” connects a set of familiar items you might hand off, rewrap, or quietly move on to someone else, all tied together by a neat spangram running through the grid.
22 December NYT Strands theme: “Pass it along”
Today’s puzzle leans into the idea of regifting, using everyday objects you might receive, appreciate (or not), and then pass along to someone else. The theme feels light and a little cheeky, with answers that could easily show up at a holiday party, office exchange, or birthday gathering. The spangram is short but central, and once spotted, it helps you see the rest of the items as part of one continuous chain.
22 December NYT Strands: Hints
- Think of classic gift items that are easy to rewrap and give to someone new.
- Look for objects you might find on a coffee table, vanity, or tucked into a gift bag.
- Several words are short and straightforward, so try scanning for common household nouns first.
- One answer points directly to something you read, while another is something you drink.
- The spangram captures the overall act that ties all of these items together.
22 December NYT Strands: Answers
- Book (a simple, thoughtful gift that can easily move from one person’s shelf to another)
- Wine (a go-to bottle that often gets brought to dinners and parties, then passed along again)
- Scarf (a cozy accessory that is easy to rewrap if it is the wrong style or color)
- Earrings (a small piece of jewelry that can quickly become someone else’s favorite)
- Lotion (a common self-care item that often appears in gift sets and baskets)
- Gadget (a handy little device that might not fit your setup but works perfectly for a friend)
- Candle (a classic home gift that can travel from one coffee table to the next)
Spangram
Regifting
The spangram “Regifting” slices through the grid to anchor the whole idea of passing gifts along. Once you trace it, the nearby letters naturally suggest the surrounding present-ready items and make the final few answers much easier to spot.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
- You’re given a theme that loosely (or directly) hints at all the answers.
- The grid is packed with hidden words that connect back to that theme.
- Words can run in any direction, including diagonals, so keep an open mind when tracing paths.
- Once you find all the theme words, the puzzle is complete and the grid neatly resolves.
Each puzzle typically hides around 6–8 theme words, plus one spangram that spans a large chunk of the grid and ties the whole concept together.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Start with obvious words. Scan for clear, concrete nouns that match the day’s theme before hunting for trickier connections.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands often hides key words at angles, especially the longer ones that link different parts of the grid.
- Build around found words. Once you lock in one answer, look at the adjacent letters to see if they naturally extend into another word.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily, but save them for when the grid feels truly stuck rather than minor slowdowns.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue may be playful or indirect, so consider related phrases and alternate word choices while scanning.
Final thoughts
The 22 December NYT Strands puzzle feels light and relatable, thanks to its gift-focused theme and the playful idea of regifting. It is an approachable solve with familiar objects, but the arrangement keeps things engaging enough that spotting the spangram still delivers a satisfying click. How many of these pass-along presents did you find before “Regifting” tied the whole grid together?
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