Loading puzzle...

NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “On the ice”, December 1, 2025

Stuck on the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “On the ice” puzzle (Strands #331 of 509 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.

Spoiler warning. The answers below are for the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle is “On the ice”. Every theme word and the spangram connects back to this phrase, so think about what related words might fit a 6×8 grid of 48 letters before you start scanning.

Hint 2: Spangram length and first letterReveal

The spangram for the “On the ice” puzzle is 10 letters long and starts with the letter H. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle has 6 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands “On the ice” puzzle is HOCKEYRINK. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 6 theme words for the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands “On the ice” puzzle:

  • GOALS
  • PUCK
  • SCOREBOARD
  • SKATES
  • STICKS
  • ZAMBONI

Plus the spangram HOCKEYRINK, that’s every word on the grid — all 48 letters accounted for.

Answers for the December 1, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "On the ice" NYT Strands puzzle

This puzzle's theme, "On the ice", contains a subtle twist. Strands puzzles with wordplay themes are designed to misdirect at first glance, then reward you with a satisfying "aha" when the spangram makes everything click. The arts & culture words hidden in the grid all connect to the theme's actual meaning, not the obvious one. Think about alternative interpretations before you start scanning.

This puzzle has 6 theme words hidden in the grid — a balanced count that gives you enough to work with without overwhelming the board. The 10-letter spangram is notably long, consuming a good chunk of the grid's 48 letters. Its size makes it easier to find if you focus on the grid's edges. Originally published on a Monday, Puzzle #331 is a more recent addition to the 509+ puzzle archive.

#331
Puzzle Number
6
Theme Words
10
Spangram Letters
Medium
Difficulty

How to approach "On the ice"

  • This theme contains wordplay — don't take it at face value. Think about alternative meanings and which interpretation the hidden words might support.
  • The long 10-letter spangram is your best starting point. Scan the edges of the grid — the spangram must start on one side and end on the opposite side.
  • Theme words can bend and curve in any direction, including diagonals. They don't follow straight lines like a traditional word search — trace paths that zigzag across the grid.
PreviousAll NYT Strands answersNext

More puzzles from December 2025

31 Wed
One good turn deserves another
30 Tue
2025 Top Twenty
29 Mon
Are you putting me on?
28 Sun
Load up on tissues
27 Sat
If you ask me ...
26 Fri
Please hold
View all December puzzles

More NYT Strands puzzles

May 17
Strike one!
Dec 21
Big bad wolf
Sep 5
Getting into gear
May 30
We'll be there
May 29
E-I-E-I-O
May 28
Talking scents
May 27
Ketchup or mustard?
May 25
Thank you

Sister Sites · More logic puzzles

Queens
Region logic, daily + 1,500 puzzles
Patches
Region-stitching puzzle
Tango
No 3-in-a-row pattern
Zip
Path-drawing puzzle
Mini Sudoku
Compact sudoku
Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive of past Strands puzzles. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. NYT Strands is a trademark of The New York Times Company. Today's daily puzzle is free at nytimes.com/games/strands.