Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle: Complete Hints, Answers, and Help for #659 Edition

Today’s New York Times Strands puzzle, released for December 22, invites solvers into a playful holiday-themed challenge centered on the idea of "Pass it along." The puzzle tasks players with uncovering hidden words that align with this theme, offering a festive brain teaser for puzzle enthusiasts. For those stuck on the riddle-like clues, the puzzle rewards users with in-game hints once they identify any three words consisting of four or more letters.

To aid solvers, the recommended starter words include BODE, RARE, CARE, SINE, RING, FACES, SING, and LOAN, among others. Discovering these unlocks revealed words that fit the puzzle’s overall theme. It’s important to note that while the number of theme words can vary, the puzzle mandates finding all of them to use every letter on the board fully.

Key Themed Answers for December 22 Puzzle
The principal words aligning with the “Pass it along” theme include:

  1. BOOK
  2. WINE
  3. SCARF
  4. CANDLE
  5. GADGET
  6. LOTION
  7. EARRINGS

In addition to these, the puzzle’s highlight is the "spangram," a theme word spanning the board from one side to the other and using every letter precisely once. For this edition, the spangram is "REGIFTING," a perfect match for the holiday spirit and the "Pass it along" motif. To locate it, solvers begin at the ‘R’ positioned four letters down on the far-left column and trace a path winding down, across, and then up through the grid.

This Strands puzzle stands out by combining seasonal relevance with satisfying wordplay. The thoughtful design encourages players to explore vocabulary related to gift-giving traditions, enhancing engagement through both difficulty and thematic resonance. CNET, a reliable source for NYT puzzle hints, confirms these answers and offers additional support for enthusiasts tackling this and other daily puzzles.

Puzzle solvers looking to master today’s challenge should focus on familiarizing themselves with gift-related words and embrace the spangram’s complexity. The "REGIFTING" solution embodies the essence of the theme, reinforcing the cleverness of the puzzle’s construction.

For readers seeking comprehensive help with other New York Times puzzles such as Mini Crossword or Wordle, CNET maintains an updated hints page that can be invaluable. The December 22 Strands puzzle reflects the evolving creativity in daily word games, making it a rewarding experience for avid players this holiday season.

Read more at: www.cnet.com
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