• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Pass the eggnog
NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Monday, December 23 (game #295)

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #295) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
NYT Strands today (game #295) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- BRING
- BEAR
- DRAY
- PEEP
- BARD
- MAIN
NYT Strands today (game #295) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Festive taste
NYT Strands today (game #295) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: top, 1st column
Last side: bottom, 3rd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #295) – the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #295, are…
- COCOA
- GINGERBREAD
- CRANBERRY
- PEPPERMINT
- SPANGRAM: HOLIDAY FLAVOR
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Call me fussym but I’m not a great fan of raw eggs in drinks and just the idea of them makes me feel suddenly queasy – so, yes I will pass on the eggnog.
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Every other Christmas/HOLIDAY FLAVOR then I am all in, although my favorite – cinnamon – hasn’t made today’s short and sweet Strands. Which is odd, as you’d surely rank it higher in the list than PEPPERMINT, which has 12 months of the year to star on people’s taste buds thanks to its domination of the gum and toothpaste markets. Mmmmm… the holiday flavor of toothpaste.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 22 December, game #294)
- SNOW
- BELLS
- GLISTENING
- WALKING
- SLEIGH
- SPANGRAM: WINTER WONDERLAND
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints…
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