One Good Turn Deserves Another: NYT Strands puzzle reveals spinning theme, here are all December 31 hints

The New York Times Strands puzzle for December 31, 2025, rings in New Year’s Eve with a fitting theme about motion and repetition. Today’s puzzle (#668) challenges players to find words related to turning and rotating movements. If you’re stuck on this New Year’s Eve brain teaser, we’ve got all the hints you need.

Understanding the “One Good Turn Deserves Another” Theme

This New Year’s Eve puzzle plays on one of the oldest proverbs in English. When something “does a good turn,” we usually think of a favor or helpful act. But today’s Strands puzzle twists this saying into a theme about actual physical turning and rotation.

The theme words all relate to spinning, twirling, or rotating movements. Whether it’s a ballet dancer’s graceful movement or a carnival ride’s continuous rotation, these words capture the essence of circular motion. The spangram “Round and Round” perfectly encapsulates this theme.

Complete Theme Words and Spangram

Ready to see the actual answers? Here are all the theme words for today’s puzzle:

Theme Words	Related Movements
Circle	Basic rotational shape
Spin	Quick rotating motion
Orbit	Circular path around something
Whirl	Rapid spinning movement
Pirouette	Ballet turn on one leg
Rotate	General turning action

The spangram connecting these words is “Round and Round,” which spans horizontally or diagonally across the puzzle board and encompasses all the theme words.

Non-Themed Words to Find

Beyond the theme words, you’ll need to identify three additional words with no thematic connection. These non-themed words serve as helpful hints to unlock the puzzle.

The non-themed words for Strands #668 are: Spit, Trip, World, Golden, Abracadabra, and Daisies. Finding these seemingly random words is actually part of the puzzle’s design. Once you connect these three non-themed words, the Strands game shows you a helpful hint about the theme words you’re searching for.

Hints and Strategies for Solving Today’s Puzzle

If you’re still struggling to find all the words, here are some helpful hints without giving everything away. Think about what a merry-go-round does — it continuously rotates. That’s your main theme.

Start by looking for short, common words related to spinning. Words like “Spin” and “Whirl” often appear in obvious positions. Then search for more sophisticated words like “Pirouette,” which relates to ballet. Remember that puzzle words can connect in any direction — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Why New Year’s Eve Puzzles Matter

The final day of the year puzzle carries special significance for daily puzzle players. Many use these last Strands and other New York Times games as part of their New Year’s Eve routine. The “One Good Turn Deserves Another” theme perfectly captures the spirit of reflection and repetition as the year cycles to its conclusion.

“These puzzle themes often mirror the cultural moment of the day.”

— NYT Games Community, Strands Player Base

Can You Solve This New Year’s Eve Special Before Midnight?

Whether you’re celebrating the new year or looking for a quick mental challenge, today’s Strands puzzle offers the perfect blend of difficulty and satisfaction. The circular theme of spinning and rotating serves as a nice metaphor for completing the year’s final puzzle.

Remember, Strands refreshes daily at midnight, so there’ll be a brand new puzzle waiting for you on January 1, 2026. But for now, this December 31 special gives you one last chance to sharpen your word-finding skills as 2025 comes to an end.

Sources

• Mashable – Daily NYT Strands hints and answers coverage
• CNET – Tech and gaming news including daily puzzle solutions
• The New York Times – Official Strands game and Sidekick guides