This guide covers the Monday, December 16, 2024, edition of NYT Strands—game #288—not a current daily puzzle. Its theme, “Crossed Words,” points to words formed by blending two other words or word parts.
Below are progressively stronger hints, followed by the spangram and all six theme-word answers. Stop before the spoiler warning if you are still solving.
Hints for NYT Strands #288
Try these clues in order. The later hints give away more of the puzzle.
- Theme hint: Look for words made by combining two words or parts of two words.
- Conceptual hint: Some of the answers are familiar everyday terms; others are newer, specialized, or less commonly encountered formations.
- Category hint: The spangram is the plural word for this kind of blended word.
- First letters: The six theme answers begin with AT, ZO, AN, BR, SP, and SM.
- Spangram first letters: The spangram begins with PO and runs vertically from near the top toward the bottom of the board.
What does “Crossed Words” mean?
The theme refers to blends, also called portmanteau words: terms created by combining elements, sounds, or meanings from two other words. For example, brunch combines breakfast and lunch, while smog combines smoke and fog.
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The terms “blend” and “portmanteau” overlap. Merriam-Webster notes that lexicographers often use blend for formations such as brunch, while portmanteau remains a valid and widely understood description of the same word-formation process. See Merriam-Webster’s explanation of portmanteau words and blends.
Spoiler warning: the spangram and answers
The complete solutions are below.
Spangram: PORTMANTEAUX
The spangram is PORTMANTEAUX. This is a recognized plural spelling of portmanteau, the word for a term formed by combining parts or meanings from other words. The answer is spelled with the French-derived plural ending -eaux, not simply “portmanteaus.” Merriam-Webster lists portmanteaux as an accepted plural form.
Contemporary guides for this puzzle describe the spangram as running vertically on the board. Its role is to identify the category containing the six remaining theme words.
The six theme-word answers
| Answer | What it combines or describes |
|---|---|
| ATHLEISURE | athletics + leisure |
| ZORSES | zebra + horse |
| ANKLET | ankle + bracelet |
| BRUNCH | breakfast + lunch |
| SPORK | spoon + fork |
| SMOG | smoke + fog |
How each answer fits the theme
ATHLEISURE
Athleisure combines athletics and leisure. It describes clothing designed for athletic comfort but styled for ordinary activities outside exercise. Cambridge Dictionary defines athleisure as clothing suitable for sports that is also fashionable enough to wear for other activities. The answer may be less immediately obvious than the more familiar blends in this grid.
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ZORSES
Zorses is the plural of zorse, a term for a zebra-horse hybrid. It combines zebra and horse. The exact Strands answer is ZORSES; it should not be replaced with the broader term “zebroids,” which can refer to zebra hybrids more generally.
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This was one of the entries that reportedly caught some players off guard, since “zorse” is much less familiar than words such as brunch or smog.
ANKLET
Anklet blends ankle and bracelet in the puzzle’s word-formation theme. It refers to jewelry worn around the ankle, also called an ankle bracelet.
BRUNCH
Brunch is the classic blend of breakfast and lunch. It names a meal that occupies the space between, or combines features of, those two meals. Merriam-Webster uses brunch as a familiar example when discussing portmanteau words.
SPORK
Spork combines spoon and fork. The resulting utensil has features associated with both: a spoon-shaped bowl and fork-like tines. The word is straightforward once the theme is recognized.
SMOG
Smog combines smoke and fog. It is another standard example of a blended word, and Merriam-Webster specifically cites it when explaining the term portmanteau. In ordinary usage, smog refers to polluted or hazy air, especially in an urban environment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why this Strands puzzle could feel difficult
The underlying pattern becomes fairly clear after finding familiar entries such as BRUNCH, SPORK, or SMOG. The challenge is that not every answer has the same level of familiarity. ATHLEISURE is a modern fashion term, while ZORSES depends on recognizing a relatively uncommon hybrid-animal word. Player reactions at the time described those entries as surprising or difficult, but that is a reported reaction rather than an objective difficulty rating.
Best Value
Once the category answer PORTMANTEAUX is identified, it provides a strong confirmation: the remaining words should not merely be compounds or related concepts; they should be recognizable blends or portmanteau-style formations.
Answer recap
- Spangram: PORTMANTEAUX
- Theme words: ATHLEISURE, ZORSES, ANKLET, BRUNCH, SPORK, SMOG
- Theme: “Crossed Words”—blended words made from two words or word parts
- Puzzle date: Monday, December 16, 2024
- Game number: #288
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the NYT Strands spangram for December 16, 2024?
The spangram was PORTMANTEAUX, the accepted plural form of portmanteau.
What were the answers to NYT Strands on December 16, 2024?
The six theme words were ATHLEISURE, ZORSES, ANKLET, BRUNCH, SPORK, and SMOG.
What was the theme of Strands game #288?
The theme was “Crossed Words.” The answers were blended words formed from two words or word parts.
Is “portmanteaux” a correct plural?
Yes. Portmanteaux is an accepted plural spelling of portmanteau; “portmanteaus” is also used, but the Strands answer was specifically PORTMANTEAUX.
The Bottom Line
For Monday, December 16, 2024, NYT Strands game #288 used the theme “Crossed Words.” The spangram was PORTMANTEAUX, with ATHLEISURE, ZORSES, ANKLET, BRUNCH, SPORK, and SMOG completing the board.
Quick Recap
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