Issue #645 Mon 8 Dec
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — December 8, 2025
A tidy grid often requires a quick refresher on the building blocks of a sentence. Today’s puzzle asks you to assemble the components that hold our language together.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You find yourself scanning a dictionary for the specific label that distinguishes a person from a place or a quality.
Linguistic classifications and grammar
GRAMMATICAL BUILDING BLOCKS
Spangram 4 hints · 13 letters
The connector word
Compound noun
13 letters.
Starts with P, ends with H.
PARTSOFSPEECH
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 A (9 letters)
- 2 A (7 letters)
- 3 C (11 letters)
- 4 N (4 letters)
- 5 V (4 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 AD (9 letters)
- 2 AR (7 letters)
- 3 CO (11 letters)
- 4 NO (4 letters)
- 5 VE (4 letters)
Theme word 1 of 5 5 hints · 9 letters
A theme word
A word used to modify or describe a specific person, place, or object.
9 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AD.
ADJECTIVE
Theme word 2 of 5 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
A common tag like the, a, or an that precedes a singular entity.
7 letters.
Starts with A.
Starts with AR.
ARTICLE
Theme word 3 of 5 5 hints · 11 letters
A theme word
A bridge that links two independent clauses or ideas into one cohesive thought.
11 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CO.
CONJUNCTION
Theme word 4 of 5 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
A word identifying a specific person, place, or thing.
4 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NO.
NOUN
Theme word 5 of 5 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
A word that expresses an occurrence, a state of being, or an action.
4 letters.
Starts with V.
Starts with VE.
VERB
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
- ADJECTIVE
- ARTICLE
- CONJUNCTION
- NOUN
- VERB
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on December 8, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for December 8, 2025, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on December 8, 2025?
NYT Strands on December 8, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 5 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the December 8, 2025 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 13 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "P" — 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 8, 2025?
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 5 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 13-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 5 theme words · 13-letter spangram