The New York Times Connections puzzle gives you 16 words to sort into four groups of four. On 5 December 2025, the grid mixed straightforward synonyms, phrase-building words, and classic board-game titles. Below you’ll find careful hints to nudge you toward each group and the full answers once you’re ready.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 5 December 2025

Today’s puzzle felt tidy and thematic: two groups leaned on familiar phrases, one on synonyms for difficulty, and one collected recognizable board-game names. Solvers who switched between thinking of phrases and categories quickly found traction.

NYT Connections Hints: 5 December 2025

Category 1:

• Think words that mean “difficult” or “not easy.”
• One is often used about decisions or tasks.
• Another is common when talking about fragile situations.
• Picture contexts: a problem, a surface, or an emotional state.

Category 2:

• These words are often used to describe a “state” or condition.
• One frequently precedes the word “of” when describing events.
• Another can mean an arrangement or agreement.
• All four can describe how things stand or are presented.

Category 3:

• Classic family board-game titles — not abstract concepts.
• One is a word describing an interrogation-style guessing game.
• Another is a game where little metal pieces get triggered.
• Two are familiar retail names from game boxes.

Category 4:

• Each pairs with the same short word to make a common two-word phrase.
• Think of conversational or intimate “talk.”
• They range from affectionate to casual to risqué.
• One is what you might call a soothing bedside conversation.

NYT Connections Answers: 5 December 2025

Here are the answers, grouped by category:

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

Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip

Today’s puzzle balanced vocabulary and phrase recognition — approachable if you flip between synonyms and phrase-building. Quick strategy tip: when a few words look like they share a connector (like a common second word), test that connector early to lock in a group.