If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone — this clever word game mixes the fun of a word search with a satisfying, theme-based twist.

25 December 2025: NYT Strands Today’s Theme

For December 25, 2025, today’s theme is: “Caroler's count.”

This means every hidden word in the grid connects back to something iconic, timeless, or traditional — but spotting them takes a sharp eye.

About Today’s Puzzle

Today’s board gives you an 8×8 grid of letters, and your goal is to uncover 7 theme words hidden inside. Each word ties back to the idea of something “Caroler's count.”

25 December 2025: NYT Strands Hints

  • Think about a classic Christmas song built around counting gifts.
  • Look for plural nouns rather than individual objects.
  • Several answers are people or animals mentioned in the verses.
  • Words may curve or bend, not just run straight.
  • The spangram ties directly to the overall structure of the song.

25 December 2025: NYT Strands Answers

  • Lords
  • Maids
  • Swans
  • Ladies
  • Pipers
  • Drummers

Spangram of the day

Christmas Days

The spangram refers to the famous “Twelve Days of Christmas,” connecting all the counted gifts and performers mentioned in the carol and neatly summarizing the puzzle’s festive theme.

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.

How to get and use hints

Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:

  • To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
  • Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
  • When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.

Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.

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.

Did you get the classic win?

The NYT Strands puzzle for December 25, 2025, was a nod to all things timeless, with words celebrating tradition and lasting value. Whether you cracked it without hints or pieced it together one word at a time, today’s puzzle was the perfect mix of challenge and nostalgia.

Come back tomorrow for a fresh grid and theme — and tell us in the comments which word stumped you the most today!