The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →NYT Strands game #665 for Sunday, December 28, 2025, has the theme “Load up on tissues.” Start with the hints below if you want a nudge; the complete answer list, including the spangram, is farther down behind a spoiler warning.
Hints for Strands #665
Start with the theme
“Load up on tissues.” Think of irritating sounds and nose-related nuisances that might send someone reaching for a tissue box when they are under the weather.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Try finding these words in the grid: FORK, SAME, WHEY, CHAMP, PHASE, and SOCKS. Non-theme words can contribute toward unlocking hints in Strands.
Spangram hint
The spangram has 11 letters. It touches the top of the grid at the first column and the bottom at the sixth column.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How Strands works
Strands is a themed word-search game: find the theme words hidden in the grid, while other words can help unlock in-game hints. The spangram describes the theme and stretches across opposite sides of the grid. You can play on the NYT Games site. TechRadar says a new puzzle appears at midnight in each time zone, so “today’s” puzzle can refer to a different date depending on where you are. This page is the archived answer for December 28, 2025.
Quick Recap
Full answer key (spoilers)
Stop here if you do not want the answers revealed.
- COUGH
- DRIP
- HACK
- SNEEZE
- SNIFFLE
- SNORT
- WHEEZE
Spangram: COLDSYMPTOM
Sources
- TechRadar’s December 27, 2025 guide reports the game number, theme, hints, spangram placement, and full answer key.
- Try Hard Guides’ dated guide independently confirms the date, game number, theme, answers, and spangram.
- The Word Finder’s December 28, 2025 solver page offers a non-spoiler clue.
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