NYT Connections Hints and Answers for December 24, 2025, #928

Happy Wednesday, fellow puzzle enthusiasts! Can you believe we're already in the middle of the week? It feels like just yesterday we were tackling Monday's brain teasers. Time really does fly when you're having fun, doesn't it?

Speaking of flying, today marks the arrival of the first chill or heatwave of the season, depending on where you are. As I stepped outside this morning, the crisp 37-degree air hit me like a ton of bricks. It's either time to bundle up in layers or crank up the heater, no in-between!

As you dive into today's "Connections" puzzle, keep an eye out for those sneaky cross-category decoys that might throw you off track. Remember to scan for loose synonyms and subtle hints in the clues to help you navigate through the color tiers. Trust me, the more you play, the easier it gets!

So, are you ready to exercise those mental muscles and make some satisfying connections? Grab a warm drink, get cozy, and let's crack these clues together. Feel free to share hints or join in on the fun!

How to Play NYT Connections

Overview

Connections is a daily word puzzle game from The New York Times. The goal is to find groups of four words that share something in common. You’re presented with 16 words arranged in a 4×4 grid, and you must identify four groups of four related words.

Basic Rules

• You have 16 words total, arranged in a 4×4 grid
• There are exactly 4 groups of 4 related words each
• Each word belongs to exactly one group
• You must find all four groups to complete the puzzle
• You have 4 mistakes allowed before the game ends

How to Play

• Look at all 16 words and try to identify patterns or connections
• Select 4 words you think belong together by clicking/tapping them
• Click “Submit” to check if your group is correct
• If correct, those 4 words will be removed and grouped together
• If incorrect, you lose one of your 4 allowed mistakes
• Continue until you find all 4 groups or run out of mistakes

Difficulty Levels

The four groups are color-coded by difficulty:

• 🟨 YELLOW: Easiest – usually straightforward categories
• 🟩 GREEN: Easy-Medium – slightly more complex connections
• 🟦 BLUE: Medium-Hard – trickier associations or wordplay
• 🟪 PURPLE: Hardest – often involves puns, multiple meanings, or very subtle connections

Strategy Tips

• Start with the most obvious connections first
• Be careful of red herrings – words that seem to fit multiple categories
• If you’re unsure, try to eliminate what doesn’t belong first
• The purple group often involves wordplay, homophones, or very creative connections
• Don’t guess randomly – you only have 4 mistakes

Scoring

• Complete the puzzle to see your results
• Mistakes are tracked but don’t affect your final score
• Share your results with friends using the share button
• Results show how many mistakes you made for each group