If you’re visiting this page, you might be seeking some assistance with playing [**Strands**](https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands), *The New York Times*’ elegant word-search game.
**Strands** adds a creative spin to the classic word search format. Rather than merely spotting words in straight lines, you can connect letters in any direction — whether it’s up, down, left, right, or diagonal. Words can even shift direction along the way, creating distinctive shapes and patterns. The twist? Every letter within the grid contributes to a solution. Each puzzle is unified by a theme, and there’s invariably a “spangram” — a notable word or phrase that captures the essence of the day’s theme and traverses the entire grid either horizontally or vertically.
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### Games You May Enjoy:
– [**Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Engage with games on Mashable**](https://games.mashable.com/)
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In contrast to other NYT games such as [**Wordle**](https://mashable.com/category/wordle) or [**Connections**](https://mashable.com/category/connections), **Strands** raises the stakes by providing only a vague hint and no list of words. This creates a more time-consuming and intellectually stimulating experience. However, if you’re pressed for time or find yourself at a standstill, we have all the hints necessary to help you tackle today’s puzzle at your own pace.
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### Related Resources:
– [**Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 9**](https://mashable.com/article/wordle-today-answer-december-9-2024)
– [**NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 9**](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-December-9)
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## Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Solutions
### Today’s Theme Hint: “Quiet at First”
The theme for today pertains to words beginning with a silent letter.
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### Theme Clarification
All the words featured in today’s puzzle initiate with a letter that is not pronounced.
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### Spangram Hint: Horizontal or Vertical?
Today’s spangram occupies the grid horizontally.
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### Spangram Solution
Today’s spangram is: **SilentLetter**.
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## Word List for December 9
Here are all the words included in today’s **Strands** puzzle:
– **Gnome**
– **Knuckle**
– **Honesty**
– **Psalm**
– **Wrap**
– **Mnemonic**
– **SilentLetter**
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### Additional Games and Puzzles
In search of more daily games? Visit [**Mashable’s Games page**](https://mashable.com/category/games) for hints, strategies, and a range of puzzles. From Mahjong to Sudoku and free crosswords, there’s a game for everyone. Explore our [**games hub**](https://games.mashable.com/) for even more excitement.
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### Missed Yesterday’s Puzzle?
If you need the solution to yesterday’s **Strands**, [click here](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-december-8).