NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Monday, December 23 (game #295)

NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

Jump to:

Hint #1: Today's theme
Hint #2: Clue words
Hint #3: Spangram
Hint #4: Spangram position
Today's answers
Yesterday's answers

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?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Pass the eggnog

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

NYT Strands answers for game 295 on a blue background — (Image credit: New York Times)

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.

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.

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Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna's addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.

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