NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 28 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: 28 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: 28 December 2025
Category 1:
- Think about items used to send things safely
- Common in mailrooms and post offices
- Often paired with labels or addresses
- All serve a similar practical purpose
Category 2:
- Words describing a lack of motion
- Could apply to objects or situations
- Often used interchangeably in speech
- Nothing is going anywhere here
Category 3:
- Small but important components
- Found inside precise machinery
- Associated with timekeeping devices
- Work together to control movement
Category 4:
- Familiar animals with a twist
- Spelling matters more than meaning
- One letter changes the original word
- All are playful variations
NYT Connections Answers: 28 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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