NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 12, 2025 (#649)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 12, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 12, 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 12, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Shakespearean titles
Today’s theme is “Shakespearean titles”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with M, M, M, S, T, T. Several share a starting letter (M, T).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 5, 7, 7, 8 and 9. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 9.
SpangramThe spangram
THEBARD
7 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with T, ends with D.
AnswersAll theme words
- MERRY5 letters
- SHREW5 letters
- TEMPEST7 letters
- TWELFTH7 letters
- MERCHANT8 letters
- MIDSUMMER9 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.