NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 29 December 2025, the puzzle mixed clean trivia-style groupings with one playful word-set that is easy to overthink. The grid is fair, but you’ll want to watch out for a couple of tempting cross-category traps.​ Below is a spoiler‑free walkthrough first, followed by the full answers and category explanations for today’s puzzle.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 29 December 2025

Today’s grid splits neatly between two vocabulary-based categories, one general-knowledge set, and one wordplay twist.​
Difficulty sits around medium: most groups feel “gettable” once you see the link, but there are just enough overlapping meanings to burn through your mistakes if you rush.​

As always, the safest path is to confirm that all four words in a set fit a single unifying idea, not just a loose association.

NYT Connections Hints: 29 December 2025

Category 1:
  • Think about movement that isn’t random, but follows a certain pattern.​
  • These words can describe how things change over time.​
  • People use them in news, science, and everyday conversation when talking about what’s likely to keep happening.
Category 2:
  • Picture what makes up living organisms at a structural or microscopic level.​
  • These are biological building blocks that appear in textbooks and lab discussions.​
  • Each one can be studied on its own, but together they form the basis of how bodies work.
Category 3:
  • Think about events held at a huge international sports festival.​
  • These involve running tracks, pools, or arenas full of cheering fans.​
  • You’d see these on TV broadcasts every four years in the summer.
Category 4:
  • These sound like familiar car brands, but the spelling is intentionally off.​
  • Say each one out loud and think of what popular automaker it resembles.​
  • One letter change is often all it takes to turn the brand into a playful word.

NYT Connections Answers: 29 December 2025

Here are the answers for today, grouped by category:

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

Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip

When a grid mixes straightforward trivia with wordplay, try locking in the factual sets first (like scientific terms or sports), then circle back to anything that feels oddly spelled or pun‑like.​ Once you’ve isolated the “trick” words, reading them out loud can reveal sneaky homophones that aren’t obvious on the page.