NYT Strands is the daily word-search-style puzzle from the New York Times that asks players to uncover themed words hidden across a letter grid. For 23 December 2025, the theme “Br-r-r-r-r!” sets a distinctly icy mood. Today’s puzzle mixes familiar cold-weather terms with a unifying spangram that neatly ties all the chilly ideas together.

23 December 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Br-r-r-r-r!”

This theme leans fully into winter vibes, focusing on words that describe low temperatures and freezing conditions. The puzzle feels approachable, with mostly common vocabulary, but the variety of cold-related terms keeps you scanning the grid carefully from multiple angles.

23 December 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think about different ways people describe very low temperatures.
  • Look for both casual and more extreme cold-related words.
  • Some answers may feel similar in meaning but differ in intensity.
  • Scan diagonals as well as straight lines — not all words run horizontally.
  • The spangram ties the entire idea of temperature together in a playful way.

23 December 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Cold
  • Glacial
  • Freezing
  • Polar
  • Chilly
  • Cool
  • Frigid

Spangram

Not so hot
The spangram captures the overall idea of the puzzle by flipping a common phrase into a humorous nod toward cold temperatures, neatly linking all the icy-themed words together.

How Strands works

NYT 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 by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  • Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

The 23 December 2025 puzzle lands on the easier side, thanks to its clear theme and familiar vocabulary. Still, it’s a fun, wintry grid that feels satisfying to complete. How many words did you spot before checking the answers?