NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 26, 2025 (#663)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of December 26, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of December 26, 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 26, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Please hold
Start from the clue “Please hold”. Once you see what the 8 theme words have in common, the grid opens up quickly.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with B, G, L, M, P, S, T, T. Two of them start with the same letter (T).
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 and 6. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 6.
SpangramThe spangram
BOXINGDAY
9 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with B, ends with Y.
AnswersAll theme words
- GIFT4 letters
- SHOE4 letters
- TOOL4 letters
- LUNCH5 letters
- MATCH5 letters
- PIZZA5 letters
- BALLOT6 letters
- TACKLE6 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.