NYT Connections challenges players to sort 16 words into four related groups. On 11 December 2025 the puzzle mixed picture-friendly items, straight anagrams, letter-sound tricks, and a '___' phrase set that could trip up hasty solvers. Below you'll find gentle hints to nudge you along, followed by the grouped answers for checking your grid.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 11 December 2025

Today’s grid presented four neat themes: yard-related nouns, a tight set of anagrams, entries that sound like letter names or spellings, and a list completing a common two-word phrase. Some groups were immediately obvious while others relied on noticing spelling patterns rather than meaning — rewarding patience and a quick eye for form.

NYT Connections Hints: 11 December 2025

Category 1:
  • Think outdoor items you might spot around a house.
  • Includes both decorative and functional objects.
  • One entry waters plants.
  • Another is where you might store tools or hide things.
Category 2:
  • Four words that are rearrangements of the same letters.
  • Each is a short, common word with different meanings.
  • Look for identical letters in different orders.
  • This is a pure spelling pattern group — no definition similarity needed.
Category 3:
  • These entries sound like letters or letter sequences when spoken.
  • Read words aloud to hear the clue.
  • Some mimic single-letter names; others mimic how letters are pronounced.
  • Phonetics, not meaning, unites this group.
Category 4:
  • Fill-in-the-blank: each word completes a familiar two-word phrase that starts with a common one-syllable noun.
  • All four form sensible compounds or idioms when paired with that initial word.
  • Think of everyday expressions and objects.
  • This group is about common collocations rather than spelling tricks.

NYT Connections Answers: 11 December 2025

Here are the answers, grouped by category:

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

Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip

This puzzle balanced visual categories with spelling and phonetic trickery — approachable but with a couple of traps for hasty solvers, especially those who overlook letter-based patterns and homophone cues that reward saying words aloud.

Quick strategy tip: scan for repeated letters and anagram possibilities first, and read suspect words aloud to catch phonetic groups.