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: 25 December 2025
Today’s grid leaned heavily into concepts and associations rather than literal definitions. A couple of categories appeared deceptively obvious, while one relied on a playful linguistic twist. Overall, this was a satisfying mix that rewarded broad knowledge and careful reading, especially for solvers who double-check patterns before locking answers.
NYT Connections Hints: 25 December 2025
Category 1:
- Often used to critique writing style
- Describes something overly decorative
- Common in literary discussions
- Can imply too much flair
Category 2:
- All relate to bringing something into existence
- Each can function as a verb
- Tied to beginnings or invention
- Not limited to physical objects
Category 3:
- These objects share a physical feature
- That feature is usually vertical
- Found in nature and everyday life
- The word “stem” applies literally
Category 4:
- Each word hides musical structure
- Think about note sequences
- Sound-based rather than meaning-based
- Familiar to anyone who knows solfège
NYT Connections Answers: 25 December 2025
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.
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