NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 19, 2025 (#656)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 19, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 19, 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 19, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
On the chopping block
Today’s theme is “On the chopping block”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, C, D, J, M, S. Two of them start with the same letter (C).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 5, 5, 8 and 10. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
MAKINGTHECUT
12 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with M, ends with T.
AnswersAll theme words
- CUBE4 letters
- DICE4 letters
- MINCE5 letters
- SLICE5 letters
- JULIENNE8 letters
- CHIFFONADE10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.