Issue #189 Sun 17 Dec
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — December 17, 2023
A steady, methodical grid today. The four groups are distinct enough to avoid the usual mid-game confusion, though a few terms might tempt you into the wrong column if you look too quickly.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
You empty your pockets at the end of the day, moving loose change into the ceramic jar on the kitchen counter.
Financial and logistical verbs
Direct synonyms
Members are 4–5 letters; first letters B, S.
RESERVE FOR LATER
One is BANK.
BANK · SAVE · STASH · STORE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The quiet confidence of someone who speaks up during a meeting when everyone else is looking at the floor.
Traits of character
Metaphorical nouns
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters G, N, S.
BOLDNESS, FIGURATIVELY
One is GALL.
GALL · GUTS · NERVE · STONES
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A front yard in mid-January, where the temperature is just right for packing powder into spheres.
Cold weather construction materials
Thematic components
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters C, S.
USED TO BUILD A SNOWMAN
One is CARROT.
CARROT · COAL · SNOW · STICKS
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A specific phrase you find yourself saying when something is clearly absurd but you have to keep a straight face.
Compound word phrases
Common word pairings
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters B, G, P.
FUNNY ___
One is BONE.
BONE · BUSINESS · GIRL · PAGES
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
RESERVE FOR LATERBANK · SAVE · STASH · STORE
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Reveal the green group
BOLDNESS, FIGURATIVELYGALL · GUTS · NERVE · STONES
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Reveal the blue group
USED TO BUILD A SNOWMANCARROT · COAL · SNOW · STICKS
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Reveal the violet group
FUNNY ___BONE · BUSINESS · GIRL · PAGES
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on December 17, 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 17, 2023, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on December 17, 2023?
NYT Connections on December 17, 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 17, 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 #189?
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