The final Strands puzzle of 2025 arrives with a quiet challenge.
No flashy pop culture. No obvious word bank. Just motion, loops, and a theme that feels fitting for New Year’s Eve.
If you’re stuck on NYT Strands Hint Today for Dec 31, you’re not alone. Puzzle #668, titled “One Good Turn”, has slowed down even regular solvers — especially those trying to squeeze in one last grid before the year flips.
This guide gives you progressive hints first, not instant spoilers. Scroll only as far as you need.
Quick Nudges: Dec 31 Theme Explanation
The phrase “One good turn deserves another” is the key — but not in a moral sense.
Today’s Strands theme is about movement and rotation.
Think:
- Circular motion
- Turning actions
- Repeated paths
- Objects or actions that end up where they started
Every theme word in today’s grid describes a type of turn, spin, or loop — physically or conceptually.
If you’re still hunting random nouns, stop.
This puzzle rewards thinking in motion, not objects.
Today’s Strands Hints (Progressive Spoilers)
⚠️ Spoiler Policy:
Each hint below reveals a little more. Stop when the grid starts to open up.
Hint 1: The Starting Letters
Look for theme words beginning with these letters:
- P
- O
- S
- T
- R
- C
If you already placed two or three words but can’t see the pattern, this letter set usually triggers the “aha” moment.
Hint 2: The Word Meanings
Here are meaning-based clues, not direct answers:
- A graceful spin often seen in ballet
- What planets do around a star
- A tight, controlled rotation
- Something that flips end over end
- A curved path that never quite ends
If dance, physics, or motion came to mind — you’re thinking correctly.
The Spangram: Your Final 2025 Milestone
🟨 SPOILER WARNING — DO NOT SCROLL IF YOU WANT ZERO REVEAL
The spangram in Strands #668 is special.
- It runs a long, looping path
- It touches both sides of the board
- It visually mirrors the theme itself
Many solvers miss it because they expect a straight line.
This one curves back on itself.
Pro tip: If your grid feels “almost complete” but something won’t connect, you’re probably not bending the path enough.
Full Answer Key for Strands #668
🚨 FULL SPOILERS BELOW — STOP HERE IF YOU ONLY WANTED HINTS
Theme Words
- PIRouette
- ORBIT
- SPIN
- TWIRL
- ROLL
- CURVE
Spangram
- ROUNDANDROUND
This spangram is one of the longest of the month, and fittingly, it ends exactly where it begins.
Lookback: Was “2025 Top Twenty” (#667) Harder?
Yesterday’s puzzle, “2025 Top Twenty”, leaned heavily on music recognition.
If you:
- Knew the songs → it felt easy
- Didn’t → it felt brutal
Today’s “One Good Turn” is different.
It’s more conceptual than cultural.
No trivia advantage. Just pattern recognition.
Most solvers rate #668 as slower but fairer — a calm send-off for the year rather than a spike trap.
Strands Strategy: How to Level Up for 2026
If you want to solve Strands faster in 2026, here’s one expert habit that pays off.
Watch for the “-S” and “-ED” Trap
NYT Strands loves:
- Plural bait
- Past-tense distractions
If a word almost fits but forces an awkward ending, stop.
Theme words are usually clean base forms.
Another pro move:
Once you place two theme words, stop filling random letters and hunt the spangram immediately.
It’s the skeleton key.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Strands hint for Dec 31?
The theme is turning and circular motion. Every word relates to spinning, looping, or rotation.
What was the “2025 Top Twenty” Strands spangram?
It was BESTOF2025, tying together the year’s most iconic music references.
How do you find the spangram in NYT Strands?
Look for the longest phrase that:
- Touches opposite sides of the grid
- Represents the theme as a whole
- Often bends or loops rather than running straight
Is today’s Strands harder than average?
It’s not harder — just more conceptual. Once you think in motion, it opens quickly.
Final Word: A Quiet, Perfect End to 2025
“One Good Turn” doesn’t rush you.
It asks you to slow down, trace the loop, and finish where you began.
For a final puzzle of the year, that feels exactly right.
