NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 16, 2024 (#288)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 16, 2024: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 16, 2024? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for December 16, 2024, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Crossed words
Today’s theme is “Crossed words”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are A, A, B, S, S, Z. Several share a starting letter (A, S).
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 5, 5, 6, 6 and 10 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
PORTMANTEAUX
It is a single word of 12 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with P, ends with X.
AnswersAll theme words
- SMOG4 letters
- SPORK5 letters
- ZORSE5 letters
- ANKLET6 letters
- BRUNCH6 letters
- ATHLEISURE10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.