NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 25, 2025 (#662)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 25, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 25, 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 25, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Caroler's count
The puzzle calls today’s theme “Caroler's count”. Read it loosely: the 6 answers are examples of it, not synonyms for it.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with D, L, L, M, P, S. Two of them start with the same letter (L).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 5, 5, 5, 6, 6 and 8. The shortest is 5 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
CHRISTMASDAYS
13 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with C, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- LORDS5 letters
- MAIDS5 letters
- SWANS5 letters
- LADIES6 letters
- PIPERS6 letters
- DRUMMERS8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.