The New York Times’ Strands puzzle for December 31st, 2023, presents a word-finding challenge centered around the theme of continuous motion. The puzzle requires players to identify hidden words that fit the central idea: “One good turn deserves another.”
Hints and Clues
The core concept involves recognizing words related to cyclical movement. A helpful clue provided is: “A merry-go-round does this.” To unlock in-game hints, find at least three words with four or more letters. Examples include CIRCLER, LORD, TOUT, TOUR, ROUND, WHAT, and RIOT. These words trigger the puzzle to reveal theme-related terms.
Today’s Answers
The non-spangram answers for today’s puzzle are:
- CIRCLE
- SPIN
- ORBIT
- WHIRL
- PIROUETTE
- ROTATE
The spangram, a word stretching across the entire grid, is ROUNDANDROUND. It begins with the “R” located three rows down from the far left and winds through the puzzle’s letters.
Pro Tips for Solving Strands
To improve your game, consider these strategies:
- Word Variations : Experiment with adding suffixes like “S” to existing words to uncover new clues.
- Theme Association : Once you’ve identified a theme word, scan the board for related terms.
- Forced Hints : If stuck, reveal three more clue words; the puzzle will illuminate the letters of the theme word in order.
Strands tests vocabulary and pattern recognition. By mastering these techniques, players can efficiently solve the puzzle and enjoy a daily mental challenge.
