NYT Connections Hints and Answers for December 25, 2025, #928

Happy Thursday, puzzlers! Ever walk into a room with a purpose, only to forget why you're there? It's like stepping into a yellow-tier puzzle without a clue in sight. You know there's something important lurking in the shadows, just waiting to be uncovered.

As you navigate through today's Connections puzzle, keep an eye out for those sneaky green-tier words that love to hide in plain sight. Don't let them slip by unnoticed like a forgotten task on your to-do list. Scan for loose synonyms and watch out for cross-category decoys trying to lead you astray.

With the weather hovering at a brisk 39 degrees and the sky wearing its gray overcast cloak, it's the perfect day to cozy up with a cup of hot cocoa and dive into some brain-teasing fun. So, why not give it a go and see what connections you can make today?

Ready to crack the code and unravel the puzzle's mysteries? Dive in, follow the clues, and let your mind roam freely. If you need a hint or simply want to share your progress, feel free to jump in and join 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