NYT Strands Today: Hints & Answers for December 4, 2025

NYT Standard puzzle game

NYT Standard puzzle game

Stuck on the NYT Strands Today puzzle? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, you’ll find the full answers for December 4, 2025, along with helpful hints and explanations to make solving the puzzle easier and keep your streak alive.

What Is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is a new word puzzle from The New York Times Games collection, offering a fresh challenge for fans of Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections.

In this game, players connect letters in a 6x8 grid to find theme-based words and a special “Spangram” that stretches across the grid, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

The daily theme acts as your biggest clue, helping you uncover multiple words related to the topic, plus the long Spangram that ties the whole puzzle together!

NYT Strands Today’s theme (December 4, 2025)

Here is the NYT Strands Today theme puzzle for December 4;

  • Theme: In the driver's seat

Today's theme hints at a slang phrase meaning to do something with confidence, skill, or style, as if you’re totally in control.

NYT Strands Today: hints for December 4, 2025

Need a little nudge without seeing the full answers? Here are hints for today's Strands puzzle:

  • Hint 1: Showing courage or confidence; not afraid to take risks.
  • Hint 2: Being something awesome.

Spangram Hint:

  • The Spangram runs horizontally across the grid.
  • It starts with "LI."

NYT Strands Today: answers for December 4, 2025

🛑 Spoiler Alert! 🛑

Scroll down only if you’re ready for the full solutions.

Today’s Spangram

  • LIKEABOSS

Today’s theme words

  • BOLD
  • COOL
  • SECURE
  • ASSURED
  • CONFIDENT
  • ASSERTIVE

Today's Spangram and theme words reflect the spirit of making mistakes, which is perfect for the “In the driver's seat” theme!

NYT Strands hints and answer puzzle
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Credit: NYT Games (Screenshot by Gfinity)
NYT Strands hints and answer

Today's Spangram is an easy one. Some clues BOLD, COOL, and SECURE, are all describing the same vibe, someone confident, unflappable, and clearly in control. The theme label “In the driver’s seat” nudges you toward an idiom that means being firmly in control or commanding a situation. Put those together and the natural, on-theme phrase is LIKE A BOSS; it captures boldness, calm composure, and security in leadership all at once.

To find it, scan the board from the first line on the left side, starting with the letter L, which is the first letter from the top. Continue scanning the board horizontally, going down to the right until the fourth line from the top, ending with the letter S, to complete the Spangram word.

How does the NYT Strands Spangram work?

The Spangram is a unique feature of Strands puzzles, it’s a single word or phrase that connects two sides of the grid, encapsulating the day's theme. Finding the Spangram early often makes solving the rest of the puzzle much easier.

Tips for solving NYT Strands puzzles

If you're serious about mastering Strands, keep these tips in mind:

  • Start from the corners: Theme words usually begin or end here.
  • Use in-game hints wisely: Unlock hints if you're stuck — it's better than guessing randomly!
  • Think outside the box: Sometimes, the connection to the theme might be more playful or metaphorical.
  • Focus on the Spangram: Cracking the Spangram gives you the biggest advantage.

Stay updated for NYT Strands today and beyond

Bookmark this page for daily NYT Strands Today hints and answers. We update right after the puzzle goes live, so you’ll never miss a solution!

Looking for more puzzle help? Check out the following guides below to help you out!

And that ends our NYT Strands today! Enjoy and keep your winning streak!