The New York Times puzzle Strands for December 12 brings another neat challenge for players who enjoy hunting for hidden words tied together by a central idea. Strands is known for mixing simple looking grids with themes that often demand a bit more lateral thinking, and today’s puzzle follows that pattern exactly. If you found yourself circling through the grid without spotting the thread at first, you are definitely not alone. To make the solving experience easier, here is a complete breakdown of the theme, the spangram running across the board, gentle hints to guide stuck solvers and the full list of answers for anyone who wants to check or finish their grid.
Today’s theme
The theme for the December 12 Strands puzzle is Shakespearean titles. All the hidden words revolve around familiar plays associated with Shakespeare. If you noticed clusters of letters that looked like they were forming dramatic terms or theatrical references, that was the direction you were meant to follow. Once the idea clicks, the board starts opening up almost immediately.
Today’s spangram
The spangram for today is THEBARD. This word covers the length of the grid and ties the entire theme neatly together because it is a widely used nickname for Shakespeare. In typical Strands fashion, the spangram acts like a backbone for the puzzle, helping solvers connect the related theme entries around it.
NYT Strands answers for December 12 2025
Here are all the answers featured in the puzzle today:
- MERRY
- SHREW
- TEMPEST
- TWELFTH
- MERCHANT
- MIDSUMMER
- THEBARD
Each of these words points toward well-known Shakespeare plays. Some are short and appear quickly once you understand the theme, while others stretch across the grid and require a slower sweep through the letters.
Today’s hints for Strands
For anyone who wanted clues without seeing the full solution, these were the gentle nudges that made the puzzle easier:
- Think of plays taught in school or often performed on stage.
- Look for parts of long titles before trying to find the full word.
- The spangram refers to a widely recognised nickname linked directly to Shakespeare.
These hints are light enough to keep the solving experience fun while still helping you catch the rhythm of the puzzle.
