Today’s NYT Strands tips, answers, and help for December 14 #286

Looking for the most recent Strict answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, and Connections puzzles.

Strands was a bit of a mystery to me today. I’ve realized that I do better on puzzles that deal with very concrete topics, like types of fish or Taylor Swift albums. I don’t do very well when it’s just… a concept, and there’s really no short list of words that fill the bill. Today was one of those days. If you need hints or answers, read on.

In this story I will also go into more detail about the rules for Strands.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT Puzzle Hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections turns 1: these are the 5 most difficult puzzles so far

Tip for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Nothing can stop me!

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: determination! Also: “Eye of the Tiger.”

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that match the theme of the puzzle. If you’re stuck, find all the words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters you come across will work:

• NOTE, VOTE, GONE, STENT, SETS, YEAST, DEER, TINE, STAR, RAT, RATE, PIGEON, TENNIS, TEED, SINE, PASS, PAST.

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that match the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that extends from one side of the puzzle to the other. Once you have them all (I originally thought there were always eight, but have learned the number can vary), then every letter on the board is used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

• FIRE, DRIVE, PASSION, PURPOSE, INTENSITY, DEDICATION.

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is GOGETTER. To find it, start with G, two rows down from the far left, and then five letters down. Move slightly to the left and then up and back.