Issue #276 Wed 4 Dec
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — December 4, 2024
A quiet Wednesday afternoon spent wrestling with the finer points of orthography. The grid offers a patient, steady climb for those who appreciate the small marks that change everything.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
Look at a French menu or a Spanish dictionary and notice the tiny, extra ink hovering above or below the letters.
Linguistic symbols and character modifications
MODIFIERS OF WRITTEN CHARACTERS
Spangram 4 hints · 10 letters
The connector word
A single technical plural noun
10 letters.
Starts with D, ends with S.
DIACRITICS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 A (5 letters)
- 2 C (7 letters)
- 3 C (10 letters)
- 4 G (5 letters)
- 5 T (5 letters)
- 6 U (6 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 AC (5 letters)
- 2 CE (7 letters)
- 3 CI (10 letters)
- 4 GR (5 letters)
- 5 TI (5 letters)
- 6 UM (6 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
This symbol points upward like a sharp corner.
5 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AC.
ACUTE
Theme word 2 of 6 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A small tail attached to the bottom of the letter c.
7 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CE.
CEDILLA
Theme word 3 of 6 5 hints · 10 letters
A theme word
A little hat that sits atop a vowel.
10 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CI.
CIRCUMFLEX
Theme word 4 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
This slanted mark leans back toward the left.
5 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GR.
GRAVE
Theme word 5 of 6 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A wavy line often found over the letter n.
5 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TI.
TILDE
Theme word 6 of 6 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
Two dots placed side by side above a vowel.
6 letters.
Starts with U.
Starts with UM.
UMLAUT
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- ACUTE
- CEDILLA
- CIRCUMFLEX
- GRAVE
- TILDE
- UMLAUT
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on December 4, 2024. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for December 4, 2024, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on December 4, 2024?
NYT Strands on December 4, 2024 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 6 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the December 4, 2024 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 10 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "D" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on December 4, 2024?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 6 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 10-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 6 theme words · 10-letter spangram