Issue #173 Fri 1 Dec
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — December 1, 2023
A tidy grid today with four distinct quartets. The board rewards those who look past the surface-level ambiguity to sort the concrete from the conceptual.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The parking lot rows are full, the sliding glass doors are already parting, and the fluorescent hum is starting to set in.
Urban infrastructure
Synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters M, O, S.
PLACES TO SHOP
One is MALL.
MALL · MARKET · OUTLET · STORE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A bathroom mirror, a pair of steady hands, and the stinging scent of antiseptic lotion.
Personal grooming
Synonyms
Members are 3–6 letters; first letters S, T, W.
WAYS TO REMOVE HAIR
One is SHAVE.
SHAVE · THREAD · TWEEZE · WAX
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
Handshakes over a contract, a splitting of the bill, and the final tally after the books close.
Business terminology
Synonyms
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters C, P, S, T.
PORTION OF PROFIT
One is CUT.
CUT · PIECE · SHARE · TAKE
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A rusted toolbox in the garage, the specific heft of heavy steel, and a bolt that refuses to turn.
Mechanical hardware
Synonyms
Members are 5–8 letters; first letters A, C, M, S.
KINDS OF WRENCHES
One is ALLEN.
ALLEN · CRESCENT · MONKEY · SOCKET
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
-
Reveal the yellow group
PLACES TO SHOPMALL · MARKET · OUTLET · STORE
-
Reveal the green group
WAYS TO REMOVE HAIRSHAVE · THREAD · TWEEZE · WAX
-
Reveal the blue group
PORTION OF PROFITCUT · PIECE · SHARE · TAKE
-
Reveal the violet group
KINDS OF WRENCHESALLEN · CRESCENT · MONKEY · SOCKET
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on December 1, 2023. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for December 1, 2023, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on December 1, 2023?
NYT Connections on December 1, 2023 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on December 1, 2023?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #173?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words