Issue #917 Sun 14 Dec
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — December 14, 2025
Today's grid requires a sharp eye for spelling quirks and a willingness to look past the literal. Three straightforward groups offer a foothold, but expect at least one section to demand closer inspection.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A nervous intern nodding too vigorously at every suggestion the boss makes during a Monday morning meeting.
Interpersonal dynamics
Synonyms
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters F, G, P.
LAY IT ON THICK
One is FAWN.
FAWN · FLATTER · GUSH · PRAISE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A dusty copy of a fairy tale book left on a nightstand, its spine cracked from years of bedtime readings.
Classic literature
Proper nouns from a specific author
Members are 7–8 letters; first letters D, E, M, P.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN FIGURES
One is DUCKLING.
DUCKLING · EMPEROR · MERMAID · PRINCESS
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A teacher pausing at the blackboard, chalk dust settling on their sleeve as they decide which letter to skip in a word.
Orthography
Phonetic anomalies
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters C, W.
SILENT "L"
One is CALF.
CALF · CHALK · COLONEL · WOULD
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A dusty trough in a barnyard, where the animals scramble for the best spot at the morning feeding.
Pop culture icons
Proper names of characters
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters B, N, P.
FICTIONAL PIGS
One is BABE.
BABE · NAPOLEON · PIGLET · PORKY
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
LAY IT ON THICKFAWN · FLATTER · GUSH · PRAISE
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Reveal the green group
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN FIGURESDUCKLING · EMPEROR · MERMAID · PRINCESS
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Reveal the blue group
SILENT "L"CALF · CHALK · COLONEL · WOULD
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Reveal the violet group
FICTIONAL PIGSBABE · NAPOLEON · PIGLET · PORKY
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on December 14, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for December 14, 2025, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on December 14, 2025?
NYT Connections on December 14, 2025 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 14, 2025?
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 #917?
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