Today’s NYT Strands Hints & Answers – Dec 26 (#663)

If you’re looking for Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Dec. 26 (#663), you’re in the right place. Today’s Strands puzzle is playful and clever—but it can feel confusing at first because the connections between words aren’t immediately obvious. With the right hint, though, everything clicks.

Let’s break it down step by step, from the theme to the final spangram.

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What Is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a daily word-search-style puzzle from The New York Times. Players search a grid to uncover theme-related words and one special word—the spangram—that stretches across the board and defines the theme.

Unlike Wordle or Connections, Strands rewards exploration. Finding any valid words helps unlock hints that guide you toward the theme answers.

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Hint for Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle (Dec. 26, #663)

Today’s Theme

Please hold.

If that feels vague, here’s a more direct nudge 👇

Extra Clue

Cats love these more than they love expensive toys.

💡 Think cardboard, packaging, and things that come with deliveries.

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Clue Words to Unlock In-Game Hints

In Strands, every three words of four letters or more unlock one hint. These are example words that successfully triggered hints during gameplay (yours may differ):

• BOXING
• CHEAT
• HEAT
• SMOCK
• MOCK
• LATE
• TEAM / TEAMS
• MEAT
• LOOT
• TOLE
• BALL
• BALE
• KALE
• TALL

Any valid words of sufficient length will work, so don’t overthink this step—explore freely.

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Answers for Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle

Once the theme becomes clear, the answers fall into place. Every solution below can be placed in front of the word “box.”

Theme Answers (Non-Spangram)

• GIFT
• SHOE
• TOOL
• LUNCH
• MATCH
• PIZZA
• BALLOT
• TACKLE

Together, these explain the theme “Please hold” through familiar compound words.

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Today’s NYT Strands Spangram

BOXINGDAY

This is the key word that connects the entire puzzle.

How to find it:
Start with the B located four letters down on the far-left column. From there, wind across the grid and then downward. Once BOXINGDAY is found, the remaining theme words become much easier to spot.

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Why Today’s Puzzle Felt Tricky (At First)

• The theme is abstract, not literal
• The words don’t seem related until you think of compound phrases
• The “cat clue” nudges you toward boxes—but not directly

Once “box” clicks, everything aligns neatly.

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Helpful Tips for Solving Future Strands Puzzles

• Search broadly at first: Any valid long words help unlock hints
• Look for word families: Prefixes and suffixes matter a lot
• Find the spangram early: It often reveals the theme instantly
• Use edges and corners: Spangrams often travel long paths

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FAQs: Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Dec. 26 (#663)

Q1. What is today’s Strands theme?
“Please hold.”

Q2. What is the spangram for Dec. 26 Strands?
BOXINGDAY.

Q3. How many theme words are there today?
Eight non-spangram theme words, plus one spangram.

Q4. Why do cats relate to today’s clue?
Cats famously love boxes—especially cardboard ones.

Q5. Do all Strands puzzles have the same number of answers?
No, the number of theme words can vary.

Q6. How do I unlock hints in Strands?
Find three words of four letters or more anywhere in the grid.

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Final Thoughts

That wraps up Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Dec. 26 (#663). This puzzle is a great example of how Strands rewards patience—once the theme reveals itself, the rest becomes a satisfying sweep across the grid.

Come back tomorrow for fresh hints and solutions to keep your daily puzzle streak alive.