NYT Strands December 28 2024 Hints, Spangram and Answer

28 December 2024
5 Words

Find all theme words and the spangram in today's letter grid. Need help? Use our step-by-step hints below!

Today's Theme

"Just the essentials"

Spangram

12 letters

Theme Words

4 words

What is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is The New York Times' captivating word puzzle that combines elements of word search with thematic word finding. Each day presents a 6×8 grid of letters where you must discover all theme words related to a specific clue, plus find the special "spangram" that spans across the grid.

Unlike traditional word searches, Strands words can change direction, creating unique shapes and paths through the grid. The challenge is not just finding words, but understanding how they all connect to the daily theme.

Today's Theme

"Just the essentials"

Find 4 theme words and 1 spangram related to this clue

NYT Strands Grid for 28 December 2024

C
A
L
P
U
S
T
U
E
Y
T
A
H
A
M
O
R
Y
I
E
R
A
P
D
L
O
H
O
O
R
U
C
A
A
W
A
E
T
P
V
L
D
R
D
N
E
C
E

💡 Connect adjacent letters (including diagonally) to form words. Words can change direction!

Step-by-Step Hints for 28 December 2024

Need help? Reveal hints gradually to solve the puzzle at your own pace

Today's Theme Hint

"Just the essentials"

All theme words relate to this clue. Think about different meanings and related concepts!

Spangram Hints

Length & Position

12 letters - spans from one side of the grid to the opposite side

Letter-by-Letter Reveal

A__________Y

Theme Words (4 words)

All of these words relate to: "Just the essentials"

9 letters: C _______ D
10 letters: E ________ S
8 letters: L ______ R
9 letters: P _______ I

Pro Tips for Solving Strands

Getting Started

  • • Look for the spangram first - it reveals the theme
  • • Start from grid corners and edges
  • • Think about the theme clue literally and figuratively

Advanced Strategy

  • • Words can change direction mid-word
  • • Look for common prefixes and suffixes
  • • Use non-theme words to unlock hint system

Spoiler Alert!

The complete answers are below. Only scroll down if you want to see the full solution!

Frequently Asked Questions

Complete Solution for 28 December 2024

Here are all the answers for today's NYT Strands puzzle

🎯 Spangram Answer

AROMATHERAPY

This word spans across the grid and summarizes today's theme

📝 Theme Words: "Just the essentials"

CEDARWOOD
EUCALYPTUS
LAVENDER
PATCHOULI

🔍 Bonus Words Found in Grid

These 820 additional words can also be formed from the grid letters

Click to reveal all bonus words

Non-theme words that help unlock hints in the game

All Bonus Words

ACED
ACER
ACHARYA
ACHARYAS
ACHE
ACHOLIA
ACHOO
ACHROMAT
ACTA
ACTED
ACULEI
ACUTE
ACUTER
AEMULE
AERO
AHEM
ALAAP
ALAP
ALAPA
ALAR
ALEC
ALUM
AMAH
AMAUT
AMELIA
AMORT
AMYL
AORTA
AORTAS
APACE
APACHE
APOD
APORT
APTED
APTER
ARAME
ARAR
ARDOR
AREA
AREAE
ARHAT
ARMOR
ARMORY
ARMY
AROHA
AROMA
AROW
ARPA
ARTS
ARTY
ARYL
ASTOMATAL
ATHAME
ATHEROMA
ATOM
ATOMY
ATOP
ATOPY
ATUA
AULA
AUMAIL
AUTO
AUTOMAT
AUTOMATA
AUTOROUTE
AVAL
AVALE
AVALED
AVEL
AVENTRE
AVENTRED
AWARD
AWAVE
AWDL
CAEOMA
CAHOW
CALP
CALYPTRA
CALYPTRAS
CAPA
CAPE
CATE
CATER
CATNEP
CAUL
CAUM
CAVA
CAVE
CAVEL
CEDAR
CENDRE
CENT
CENTER
CENTRE
CENTRED
CENTU
CERT
CHAL
CHAM
CHAO
CHAP
CHAPE
CHAPEL
CHAPT
CHAPTER
CHAR
CHARA
CHARAS
CHARD
CHARE
CHARM
CHARPOY
CHART
CHARTA
CHARTAS
CHARTS
CHARY
CHAT
CHAV
CHAVE
CHAVENDER
CHAW
CHEAT
CHEMO
CHER
CHOLER
CHOLERA
CHOLI
CHOP
CHORE
CHOREA
CHOU
CHOUT
CHOW
CHROMA
CHROME
CHROMEL
CHROMY
CHROMYL
CLAD
CLADE
CLAP
CLAPT
CLARO
CLAVATE
CLAVATED
CLAVE
CLAW
CLEAR
CLEAT
CLEM
CLEPT
CLOU
CLOUT
CLOUTED
CLOUTER
CLUE
CLUED
COAPT
COAPTED
COAT
COATE
COATED
COATER
COHO
COIL
COILER
COLE
CORAM
CORE
CORM
CORMEL
COUTER
CUED
CUTE
CUTER
DALE
DAWAH
DECENT
DECENTER
DECENTRE
DECENTRED
DECLAW
DECO
DECOR
DELE
DELVE
DETACH
DETACHER
DOOR
DOORMAT
DOPA
DOPY
DORAD
DORP
DOWAR
DOWD
DOWL
DOWLE
DRAD
DRAM
DRAMA
DRAP
DRAT
DRATS
DRAW
DRAWL
DRAWLED
DRAY
DROME
DROOP
DROOPY
DROP
DROW
DWALE
EATH
EATHE
ECHARD
ECHE
ECHO
ECHOER
ELEVATE
ELEVATED
ELOCUTE
ELOCUTED
ELUTE
ELUTED
ELYTRA
EMAIL
EMEU
EMULE
ENDER
ENTER
EPACT
ETAPE
ETCH
ETCHER
EUCALYPT
EUCALYPTS
EUCHRE
EUOI
EYOT
EYOTS
EYRA
EYRAS
EYRY
HAEM
HAIL
HAILER
HALE
HALED
HALVA
HALVE
HAMAUL
HAME
HAOLE
HAOMA
HARAM
HARD
HARDY
HARE
HAREM
HARM
HARMEL
HARO
HARP
HARPY
HART
HARTS
HATE
HATED
HATER
HATRED
HAUL
HAUT
HAVE
HAVEN
HEAME
HEAR
HEAT
HEATH
HEAUME
HEIL
HELIO
HELIOCHROME
HELIOCHROMY
HELO
HEMATAL
HEME
HEMELYTRA
HERM
HERMA
HERMAE
HERMAI
HERO
HEROE
HIATAL
HILCH
HOAR
HOARD
HOARY
HOER
HOLE
HOLIER
HOOD
HOODY
HOOP
HOOPOE
HOORD
HORA
HORAH
HORARY
HORE
HORME
HOUT
HOUTED
HOWL
HOWLED
HULA
HULE
HUMA
HUMOR
ILEA
LACTAM
LADE
LAHAR
LARD
LARDY
LATAH
LATH
LATHE
LATHER
LATHI
LATHIER
LATU
LAVA
LAVE
LEAM
LEAR
LEARE
LEAT
LEATHER
LEHR
LEHUA
LEME
LEMEL
LEND
LENDER
LENT
LEOPARD
LEOTARD
LEPT
LEPTA
LEPTOME
LEVA
LIAR
LIER
LOACH
LOAVE
LOCA
LOCATE
LOCATED
LOCATER
LOCH
LORE
LOUCHE
LOUED
LOUT
LOUTED
LUCE
LUMA
LUTE
LUTED
LUTER
LUTHIER
LYME
LYRA
MAHOE
MAHOUT
MAHUA
MAIL
MAILE
MAILER
MARA
MARAE
MARAH
MARAS
MARD
MARDY
MARE
MAROR
MART
MARTS
MARY
MATH
MAUL
MAUT
MAUTHER
MEAL
MEALY
MEARE
MEAT
MEATAL
MEATH
MEATHE
MELA
MEOU
MEOUED
MOPY
MORA
MORAE
MORAS
MORAT
MORATS
MORAY
MORE
MOREL
MORT
MORTS
MOTS
MOTU
MOTUS
MOYL
MOYLE
MULE
MULEY
MUTHA
MYOPY
OARY
OATER
OCHE
OCHER
OCHRE
OCHREA
OCHREAE
OCTA
OCTAVAL
OCTAVE
OCULI
OILER
OLEA
OMER
OMRAH
OPAH
ORAD
ORAL
ORDO
ORTS
OTARY
OUCH
OUTCHARM
OUTCHEAT
OUTECHO
OUTED
OUTER
OUTPACE
OUTPACED
OUTRE
OUTRED
OWLED
PAAL
PACE
PACED
PACER
PACHA
PACHOULI
PACO
PACT
PALE
PALED
PAOLI
PARA
PARAE
PARAMO
PARAS
PARD
PARDY
PARE
PAREO
PARHELIA
PAROL
PAROLE
PARORE
PART
PARTS
PARTY
PATCH
PATCHER
PATE
PATED
PATER
PATU
PAVE
PAVEN
PAWA
PAWL
PEAL
PEAR
PEARE
PEAT
PELA
PELE
PEND
PENT
PENTACLE
PLAT
PLEA
PLEAT
PLEATHER
PLEOPOD
PLUE
PLUM
PLUME
PLUMY
POACH
POACHER
POEM
POEP
POME
POMELO
POOD
POOH
POOR
PORAE
PORAL
PORE
PORT
PORTA
PORTAS
PORTS
PORTY
PORY
POTS
PRAD
PRAM
PRAO
PRAT
PRATS
PRATY
PRAU
PRAUS
PRAWLE
PRAY
PROA
PROD
PRODROMATA
PRODROME
PROEM
PROM
PROO
PRORE
PROTYL
PROTYLE
PROW
PROWL
PROWLED
PUTS
PYAS
PYAT
PYATS
PYOT
PYOTS
PYRO
RADE
RAIL
RAILE
RALE
RAMEAL
RARE
RAST
RATA
RATAL
RATH
RATHE
RATO
RATS
RATU
RATUS
REAM
REAME
REAMY
REATA
RECAP
RECHART
RECHARTS
RECHEAT
RECOAT
RECOIL
RECOILER
RECTA
RECULE
RECUT
RELOCATE
RELOCATED
RELUCT
RELUCTED
REMAIL
REMAP
REMORA
REMORAS
REOIL
RETAPE
RETCH
RHEA
RHEME
ROACH
ROAD
ROAM
ROAMER
ROAR
ROARY
ROATE
ROATED
ROCH
ROEMER
ROIL
ROLE
ROMA
ROMEO
ROOD
ROOP
ROOPY
ROPY
RORE
RORT
RORTS
RORTY
RORY
ROTA
ROTARY
ROTAS
ROTS
ROUCHE
ROUE
ROUL
ROULE
ROULEAU
ROUT
ROUTE
ROUTED
ROUTER
RYAS
RYOT
RYOTS
RYPE
SARD
SARTOR
SATRAP
SATRAPY
SATYR
SATYRA
SAUT
STAR
STAY
STOA
STOEP
STOMA
STOMATA
STOMATAL
STOP
STORE
STORM
STORMY
STORY
STRAP
STRAY
STROAM
STROMA
STROMATA
STROP
STROY
STUPE
STYE
STYLE
STYME
SUPE
SUTOR
SUTRA
TAAL
TACE
TACH
TACHE
TACHO
TACO
TAEL
TAHA
TAHOU
TAHR
TAIL
TAILCOAT
TAILCOATED
TAILER
TAILOR
TALE
TALEA
TALEAE
TAMARA
TAMARAS
TAMARAU
TAMARAUS
TAME
TAMELY
TAMER
TAPA
TAPE
TAPEN
TARA
TARAMA
TARAMEA
TARDO
TARDY
TARE
TARO
TAROC
TAROT
TAROTS
TARP
TAUPE
TAUS
TAVA
TAVAH
TAYRA
TECH
TEUCH
TEUCHER
THAE
THAR
THARM
THEM
THEMA
THEME
THERAPY
THERM
THERMAE
THERME
THERMEL
THEROPOD
THIO
THIOL
TOEA
TOEY
TOME
TOPO
TORA
TORAH
TORAS
TORE
TORO
TORPOR
TORY
TRAM
TRAMEL
TRAP
TRAPDOOR
TRAY
TROELY
TROP
TROY
TRYE
TRYMA
TRYMATA
TRYP
TSAR
TULE
TUMOR
TUPLE
TYPE
TYPO
TYRO
ULCER
ULEMA
UPTA
UPTORE
UTAS
VACUOLE
VALE
VATU
VAWARD
VELA
VELAR
VELD
VELE
VEND
VENDER
VENT
VENTED
VENTER
VENTRE
VENTRED
WAAC
WADE
WAHOO
WALD
WALE
WALED
WARD
WARDROP
WARP
WAVE
WOAD
WOALD
WOOD
WOODY
WOORARA
WOORARAS
WORD
WORDY
WORE
WORM
WORMY
YARD
YARTO
YAUP
YDRAD
YEAH
YEAR
YELP
YLEM
YORE
YORP
820
Bonus Words
4
Shortest Word
11
Longest Word
825
Total Words
💡 Pro Tip

In NYT Strands, finding 3 non-theme words unlocks a hint that highlights letters for a theme word. Use these bonus words strategically when you're stuck!

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