NYT Strands puzzle #652, for Monday, December 15, 2025, has the theme “Palette episodes.” Need a nudge before the solution? Start with the spoiler-light hints below; the complete answer list and spangram are further down.
Hints for Strands #652
Reveal only as much as you need. The theme phrase is “Palette episodes,” and a broader clue is “Rainbow shows.” The answers connect colors with television titles.
- Theme: Palette episodes.
- Broader clue: Rainbow shows.
- Letter nudges: SLOT, WIDE, SLUR, CRESS, BLOT, and COLT each point toward a theme answer. Try rearranging their letters on the board before opening the full list.
Strands directions reproduced by Parade and attributed to the New York Times say, “Find theme words to fill the board.” You can drag or tap letters to form words. Theme words turn blue, while the spangram describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. Find three non-theme words to earn an in-game hint; it reveals letters of a theme word, and an active hint can show the letter order.
Full answers and spangram
Spoilers below: This section gives the complete solution for puzzle #652.
The spangram is COLORTV, a seven-letter entry. The eight theme answers are:
- WHITE
- GOLDEN
- GREEN
- BLUE
- LOTUS
- GIRLS
- ACRES
- BLOODS
How the theme fits together
“Palette episodes” points to colors, while “Rainbow shows” suggests television titles. The answers pair color words—WHITE, GOLDEN, GREEN, and BLUE—with the other title words LOTUS, GIRLS, ACRES, and BLOODS. COLORTV spans the board as the theme’s connecting entry.
Quick Recap
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