Spoiler warning: This page gives progressively stronger hints and then the complete answer list for the Tuesday, December 9, 2025 edition of NYT Strands, puzzle #646. If you meant December 9, 2024, that was a different puzzle with the theme “Quiet at first.”
Hints for Strands #646
The theme is “On the court.” Think of basketball actions and positions rather than individual teams or players.
Gentle clue
The answers describe things players do, defensive roles and plays associated with basketball.
Stronger clue
The spangram has 10 letters, names the sport, and runs from the left side of the grid to the right side. The published hint places its fourth row across those opposite edges.
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Strands accepts non-theme words of at least four letters. Three qualifying words trigger an in-game hint that highlights a theme word. Reported examples for this puzzle are CORE, BILE, NUDE, BANKS, DEAR and DRUG.
Answers for December 9, 2025
Stop here if you only wanted hints. The complete solution is below.
Rank #2
Spoiler: theme words
- REBOUND
- DUNK
- GUARD
- JUMP
- BLOCK
- DRIBBLE
- SCREEN
Spoiler: spangram
BASKETBALL
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How this Strands puzzle works
Strands uses a six-by-eight letter grid. Theme words are connected by a common idea, while the spangram states that idea and touches two opposite sides of the board. In this edition, the connecting idea is basketball, expressed by the theme “On the court.”
The exact letter paths and official board image are not reproduced here; the answer list and theme are reported consistently by multiple published puzzle guides.
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