Solve today's Christmas Eve Strands puzzle with this comprehensive guide! Are you stumped by this challenging word puzzle? Don't worry, this guide offers spoiler-free hints, individual word solutions, a theme explanation, and the complete answer – everything you need to conquer this brain teaser.

The NYT Games Strands Puzzle #296 (December 24, 2024)

Today's Strands puzzle presents the clue: Who on Earth...? Your mission: find one pangram and six themed words, for a total of seven.

Unlocking the Mystery: Hints & Clues

Need a nudge without spoilers? These hints will steer you toward the puzzle's theme:

General Hint 1

Hint 1: Think about the inhabitants of our planet.

General Hint 2

Hint 2: Focus on common given names.

General Hint 3

Hint 3: Consider names that also represent natural elements.

Partial Solutions: Word Spoilers

Stuck on a specific word? These sections reveal individual solutions with placement hints (only open if you need help with a single word):

Spoiler 1

Word 1: Brook

Spoiler 2

Word 2: Willow

The Complete Solution

Ready to reveal the full answer? (Only open if you're completely stumped!)

The theme is Nature Names. The words are Holly, Willow, Brook, Laurel, River, and Clementine.

Unraveling the Puzzle: Theme Explanation

Need a deeper understanding of the puzzle's logic? This section breaks down the connection between the clue, theme, and words:

Each themed word is a common given name that also represents a natural element (like River). The clue "Who on Earth...?" perfectly fits this theme of earthly names.

Ready to play? Find the New York Times Games Strands puzzle on their website – it's playable on most devices!