Issue #196 Sun 24 Dec
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — December 24, 2023
Today's grid asks for a steady hand. You will find few obvious traps, but the four categories demand careful sorting before the final connections reveal themselves.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A bass note fading out, the weight of a wool blanket in autumn, or the pressure of a handshake that knows when to let go.
Descriptive adjectives
Synonyms for a shared state
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters L, M, S.
GENTLE
One is LIGHT.
LIGHT · MELLOW · MILD · SOFT
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A chalkboard menu at a butcher shop, the butcher's apron, and the specific knife pull needed for a clean separation.
Butchery and culinary arts
Items within a common physical set
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters B, C, H, S.
CUTS OF PORK
One is BELLY.
BELLY · CHOP · HOCK · SHOULDER
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The view from a harbor ferry, a copper patina weathering over decades, and the perspective of a tourist looking up.
National landmarks
Parts of a composite whole
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters C, R, T.
STATUE OF LIBERTY FEATURES
One is CROWN.
CROWN · ROBE · TABLET · TORCH
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A birthday party in mid-July, a sidewalk find, the nervous energy of a craps table, and a stray bit of grit on your cheek.
Superstitions and rituals
Objects requiring a physical interaction
Members are 4–9 letters; first letters C, D, E.
THINGS TO BLOW ON FOR WISHES/LUCK
One is CANDLE.
CANDLE · DANDELION · DICE · EYELASH
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
GENTLELIGHT · MELLOW · MILD · SOFT
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Reveal the green group
CUTS OF PORKBELLY · CHOP · HOCK · SHOULDER
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Reveal the blue group
STATUE OF LIBERTY FEATURESCROWN · ROBE · TABLET · TORCH
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Reveal the violet group
THINGS TO BLOW ON FOR WISHES/LUCKCANDLE · DANDELION · DICE · EYELASH
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on December 24, 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 24, 2023, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on December 24, 2023?
NYT Connections on December 24, 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 24, 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 #196?
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