NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 25 December 2025, the puzzle blended abstract ideas, cultural references, and clever wordplay. Some categories felt instantly familiar, while others required a second look. Below, you’ll find spoiler-free hints first, followed by the full answers.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 01 January 2026

Today’s grid leaned heavily on flexible language—words that shift meaning depending on context. Some categories felt straightforward, while others hid behind informal usage or common expressions. Many solvers likely cracked one or two groups quickly, only to slow down as remaining words started to blur together.

NYT Connections Hints: 01 January 2026

Category 1:
  • Think of something subtle, not overwhelming
  • Often linked to fantasy or superstition
  • A light touch rather than a grand gesture
  • Common in stories involving enchantment
Category 2:
  • Focus on removing an outer layer
  • Actions done before eating certain foods
  • Can apply to plants, animals, or objects
  • Stripping down to what’s underneath
Category 3:
  • Informal ways to describe a devoted person
  • Someone extremely enthusiastic
  • Often used in casual speech
  • Can sound slightly playful or teasing
Category 4:
  • These words pair with the same leading term
  • Think of familiar compound phrases
  • Some are edible, some are not
  • One shared word ties them all together

NYT Connections Answers: 01 January 2026

Here are the answers for today, grouped by category:

Category 1:
Category 2:
Category 3:
Category 4:

Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip

Today’s puzzle offered a pleasant mix of trivia and orthographic trickery — approachable if you spotted the obvious categories, trickier if you focused only on letters. Quick strategy tip: when a cluster looks like trivia, scan for proper names first; when letters look odd, test pronunciations and small edits.