Decipher NYT's Wordplay: Hints and Solutions

Solve today's New York Times Games Strands puzzle! A new word-search challenge awaits daily, but with a twist: the words are hidden, and you must deduce the theme from a single clue. Even seasoned players might find this one tricky, but we're here to help with hints, spoilers, and the full solution.

Today's puzzle, Strands #295 (December 23, 2024), presents five words to find: a pangram and four thematically linked words. The clue? Pass the Eggnog.

Need a hand? These hints offer assistance without revealing the answers:

Hints:

Hint 1: Think festive food items.

Hint 2: Consider holiday latte flavorings.

Hint 3: What seasonal additions enhance holiday treats?

Still stuck? Here are spoilers for two words, along with their locations in the grid:

Spoilers:

Word 1: Peppermint

Word 2: Cranberry

Ready for the complete solution? Here's the full answer and a solved puzzle image:

Solution:

The theme is Holiday Flavors. The words are Cranberry, Gingerbread, Peppermint, and Cocoa.

Solution Explanation:

"Pass the Eggnog" perfectly encapsulates the theme. Eggnog is a quintessential holiday beverage, and all the themed words represent popular holiday flavors used in various treats.

Ready to test your skills? Play Strands on the New York Times Games website – accessible on most devices with a web browser.