Issue #181 Sat 9 Dec
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — December 9, 2023
A tidy grid that rewards steady sorting. The groups are distinct enough to find footing, but keep an eye out for how the terms interact once you start pulling them from the pile.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
Two spoons clinking against a glass at a diner counter after the dinner rush.
Culinary menu items
Common synonyms for dessert preparations
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters F, S.
ICE CREAM TREATS
One is FLOAT.
FLOAT · SHAKE · SPLIT · SUNDAE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A junk drawer organized by size, where the metal bits rattle against each other.
Construction hardware
Items used for mechanical assembly
Members are 4–5 letters; first letters B, N, R, S.
HARDWARE FASTENERS
One is BOLT.
BOLT · NAIL · RIVET · SCREW
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The translucent golden bottle pushed to the back of the pantry shelf.
Kitchen pantry staples
Common sources of cooking fats
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters C, O, P.
KINDS OF COOKING OIL
One is CORN.
CORN · OLIVE · PALM · PEANUT
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A child running through the house after a snack, leaving traces of their progress on the doorframe.
Common word associations
Words that follow a shared adjective
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters F, N, R, W.
STICKY ___
One is FINGERS.
FINGERS · NOTE · RICE · WICKET
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
ICE CREAM TREATSFLOAT · SHAKE · SPLIT · SUNDAE
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Reveal the green group
HARDWARE FASTENERSBOLT · NAIL · RIVET · SCREW
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Reveal the blue group
KINDS OF COOKING OILCORN · OLIVE · PALM · PEANUT
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Reveal the violet group
STICKY ___FINGERS · NOTE · RICE · WICKET
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on December 9, 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 9, 2023, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on December 9, 2023?
NYT Connections on December 9, 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 9, 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 #181?
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