NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 1, 2025 (#638)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 1, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 1, 2025? 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 1, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
On the ice
Today’s theme is “On the ice”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are G, P, S, S, S, Z. Two of them start with the same letter (S).
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 5, 6, 6, 7 and 10 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
HOCKEYRINK
It is a single word of 10 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with H, ends with K.
AnswersAll theme words
- PUCK4 letters
- GOALS5 letters
- SKATES6 letters
- STICKS6 letters
- ZAMBONI7 letters
- SCOREBOARD10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.