NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Tuesday, December 24 (game #296)

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My clues will help you solve the NYT's Strands today and keep that streak going

NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
(Image credit: New York Times)
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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 #296) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Who on earth ...?

NYT Strands today (game #296) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • INTERN
  • NINE
  • HEALER
  • CRIME
  • RARE
  • VINE

NYT Strands today (game #296) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Earthy ID

NYT Strands today (game #296) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 5th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #296) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 296 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #296, are…

  • BROOK
  • HOLLY
  • RIVER
  • CLEMENTINE
  • LAUREL
  • WILLOW
  • SPANGERAM: NATURE NAMES
  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: Perfect

Even after completing today’s Strands it took me a while to understand what was meant by NATURE NAMES – then BROOK Shields, HOLLY Hunter, WILLOW Johnson, and RIVER Phoenix popped into my mind.

I was hard-pressed to think of anyone famous called CLEMENTINE or LAUREL, however.

Both are pretty rare names in general. According to the Social Security Administration in 2023 there were 543 babies named Clementine and just 391 called Laurel. For comparison, 15,270 girls in the US were named Olivia in 2023.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 23 December, game #295)

  • COCOA
  • GINGERBREAD
  • CRANBERRY
  • PEPPERMINT
  • SPANGRAM: HOLIDAY FLAVOR

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 Dee
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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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