NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Tuesday, December 3 (game #275)

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #275) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Lead the way

NYT Strands today (game #275) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • HEAD
  • LIFT
  • GIFT
  • SANE
  • SHARE
  • FLIT

NYT Strands today (game #275) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

Shine a light

NYT Strands today (game #275) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First: bottom, 4th row

Last: top, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #275) – the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 275 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #275, are…

  • CANDLE
  • LANTERN
  • TORCH
  • HEADLAMP
  • FLASHLIGHT
  • SPANGRAM: ILLUMINATION

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

This was a remarkably straightforward Strands puzzle after a few more complicated entries. The theme is simply ILLUMINATION, and the answers are all types of lighting: HEADLAMP, TORCH, LANTERN, CANDLE etc. I found CANDLE first, and coupled with the theme clue of lead the way that conjured up images (for some reason) of Ebenezer Scrooge stalking through the Victorian night, which led me to LANTERN and TORCH. I had to think a little more modern for the final two, but overall this was an easy one.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Monday, 2 December, game #274)

  • TAXMAN
  • HELP
  • YESTERDAY
  • BLACKBIRD
  • REVOLUTION
  • SPANGRAM: SONGTITLES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.