If today’s NYT Strands puzzle has you stuck staring at a wall of letters, you’re not alone. The new word game from The New York Times can get tricky fast, especially when the theme is a bit abstract. To help you out, here are today’s Strands hints, Spangram clue, and full answers for December 1, 2025.
What is NYT Strands?
NYT Strands is a daily word game from The New York Times Games library. You’re given a 6×8 letter grid and a theme for the day. Your job is to:
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Find multiple “theme words” related to that clue
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And uncover one special word or phrase called the Spangram
The Spangram is the key to the whole puzzle. It always relates directly to the daily theme and stretches across the grid – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Once you find it, the rest of the words often start to fall into place.
Today’s NYT Strands Theme (December 1, 2025)
Today’s theme:
“On the ice”
That’s your core clue. Every theme word you find is related to this idea in some way.
Light Hints for Today’s Strands (No Full Spoilers Yet)
If you want a gentle nudge without completely revealing the answers, here are some soft hints:
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Hint #1: Think about where ice-based sports are played.
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Hint #2: Consider what you’d find in a hockey game environment.
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Hint #3 (direct): One of the theme words refers to a large display that tracks the game score.
Still want help but don’t want the whole thing spoiled? Keep reading for the Spangram hint only.
Spangram Hint for Today’s NYT Strands
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The Spangram direction today is: Horizontal (left to right).
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It starts with the letters: “HO”
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The Spangram describes:
An enclosed icy area where games are played
If that’s enough for you to solve it, stop here, jump back into the game, and see if you can piece it together.
⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Everything below this line contains full answers for today’s NYT Strands puzzle for December 1, 2025. Scroll further only if you want the complete solution.
NYT Strands Spangram Answer Today (December 1, 2025)
The Spangram for today’s puzzle is:
HOCKEYRINK
It runs horizontally across the grid and perfectly matches the theme “On the ice”.
All Theme Words in Today’s NYT Strands
Here are all the theme words hidden in today’s puzzle:
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GOALS
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PUCK
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STICKS
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SKATES
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SCOREBOARD
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ZAMBONI
All of these fit neatly into the world of ice hockey and what you’d see or use on the ice at a hockey rink.
How Today’s Theme Fits Together
Once you see the full set of answers, the theme becomes crystal clear:
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HOCKEYRINK – The central location where everything happens
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PUCK, STICKS, SKATES – Core equipment used in play
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GOALS – What both teams are trying to score
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SCOREBOARD – The big display that tracks the action
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ZAMBONI – The iconic machine that resurfaces the ice between periods
If you were stuck before finding the Spangram, noticing just one of these (like ZAMBONI or SCOREBOARD) could have helped you lock into the hockey context.
How Hard Was Today’s NYT Strands?
Based on difficulty, today’s puzzle feels like a medium challenge:
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If you’re familiar with ice hockey, this was probably on the easier side.
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If you’re not into winter sports, some words like ZAMBONI or HOCKEYRINK might have taken longer to spot.
Once the Spangram HOCKEYRINK is found, though, the rest of the words follow a very consistent theme, making the endgame smoother.
Quick Tips for Solving Future Strands Puzzles
If today’s Strands left you frustrated, here are a few strategies you can use tomorrow:
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Anchor Yourself to the Theme
Start by asking: “What’s the obvious word tied to this clue?” For “On the ice,” words like PUCK, SKATES, or RINK are good early guesses. -
Hunt for Long Words First
Longer words like SCOREBOARD or ZAMBONI are often easier to spot visually than short ones like GOALS. -
Look for the Spangram Early
Once you find the Spangram, it often reveals the exact sub-theme (like hockey vs general winter ice). -
Use the Whole Grid
Don’t just search left-to-right. Check diagonals, backwards paths, and zig-zag possibilities.
That’s everything you need for today’s NYT Strands (December 1, 2025): the theme, hints, Spangram, and full word list.
