NYT Strands hints today: Final answers for December 31, 2025

Stuck on the final puzzle of the year? NYT Strands is going in circles for December 31, 2025. As the most sophisticated word-search game in the New York Times stable, Strands challenges players to link letters in any direction—up, down, diagonal, or even zigzag—to fill the entire grid and uncover a hidden theme.

NYT Strands hints for December 31 2025: Theme and Spangram

Today's theme, "One good turn deserves another," is a literal hint. While the phrase usually refers to reciprocal kindness, in this grid, it's all about circular motion. If you're looking for the spangram—the word that spans the entire grid and defines the theme—it's placed horizontally today.

The Complete Answer List for Today

The spangram for today is ROUND AND ROUND. Around this central concept, you'll find six other words that describe twirling, orbiting, or spinning.

• Circle
• Whirl
• Orbit
• Rotate
• Spin
• Pirouette