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Clear breakdown of all Strands hints, opening letters, and today’s spangram
Meanings for every theme word to help you understand the puzzle
Fast, spoiler-ready guide for easy solving and verification
The Strands puzzle by The New York Times is a word game where observation, reasoning, and language proficiency merge. Daily, the players are faced with a 6×8 letter grid formed of a group of theme words that are related by a main concept.
The signature mechanic that differentiates Strands from classic word searches is the spangram. This special word stretches across the grid-touching at least two edges-and reveals the unifying theme behind all the other answers. When you uncover the spangram, it glows in yellow, while the theme words will be highlighted in blue.
Whether you’re a lighthearted puzzler or a dedicated daily solver, Strands offers crisp design and clever construction for an always-fresh linguistic challenge.
Every Strands puzzle includes an official clue, as well as a chance to unlock additional help inside the game.
Official Hint: Behind the wheel
Extra Hint: Decision maker’s attributes
Taken together, these cues suggest qualities of leadership traits that characterize individuals who take charge, direct others, and act with confidence.
Players who need an extra nudge get a gameplay hint if they find three valid non-theme words of four or more letters. Doing this activates the ‘Hint’ button, which will outline one of the core theme words to complete the board.
Also Read: Today’s Quordle Hints and Answers for December 4, 2025
Today’s spangram is: LIKE A BOSS.
This phrase runs across the board, being representative of strong leadership qualities. Solving this one early gives a sense of the tone of the puzzle and helps to more easily find other connected words.
Each of today’s theme words represents a defining trait of the person who leads confidently, who leads decisively:
CONFIDENT – Having pride in oneself and one’s abilities.
SECURE – Steady, stable and not easily shaken.
ASSURED – Cool and confident, showing poise.
ASSERTIVE – Able to state opinions boldly and hold one’s ground.
COOL – Collected under pressure, keeping poise.
BOLD – Willing to take risks and act with courage.
All these things together created a very definite image of being like a boss: with clarity, decisiveness, and presence.
Also Read: NYT Strands Hints and Answers for December 3, 2025
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle puts leadership and self-assuredness front and center. With LIKE A BOSS as the guiding spangram, solvers enjoyed a mix of the familiar personality traits and clever word placements that are indicative of a well-crafted puzzle.
As usual, Strands rewards close observation, pattern recognition, and intuitive leaps; it’s both a fun diversion and a cognitive workout for every day. Whether you blithely cruised your way through it or carefully decoded each connection, today’s puzzle delivered a sharp and motivating theme worthy of its title.
