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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNYT Connections #912, published Tuesday, December 9, 2025, groups the 16 tiles into BEAR IN MIND, STRIPED ANIMALS, ASSOCIATED WITH RAINBOWS, and BEGINNING WITH NUMBER HOMOPHONES. Use the spoiler-aware hints below if you want help without immediately seeing every answer.
NYT Connections #912 is the puzzle for Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The groups are BEAR IN MIND, STRIPED ANIMALS, ASSOCIATED WITH RAINBOWS, and BEGINNING WITH NUMBER HOMOPHONES.
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Spoilers for NYT Connections #912 follow.
Connections #912 word list for December 9, 2025
Here are the 16 tiles from the puzzle:
- DOROTHY GALE
- CLOWNFISH
- TOUCAN
- PRIDE
- LEPRECHAUN
- HONEYBEE
- WONDER
- TIGER
- COUNT
- ZEBRA
- FOREHEAD
- FACTOR
- FIEVEL
- CONSIDER
- UNICORN
- INCLUDE
Hints for Connections #912
If you are still solving, use these clues before reading the complete answers.
| Group | Hint | One example |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Don’t forget them; keep them in mind. | FACTOR |
| Green | These animals are not solid-colored or polka-dotted. | TIGER |
| Blue | Think of the multicolored arc seen when sunlight and rain combine. | PRIDE |
| Purple | Start counting, then listen to the beginnings of the words. | WONDER |
Connections #912 answers
Yellow: BEAR IN MIND
CONSIDER, COUNT, FACTOR, INCLUDE
Each of these words can express the idea of taking something into account. To consider something is to think about it; to factor something in is to include it in an assessment or calculation; and to include something is to incorporate it. Count can also mean to regard or take something into account, as in “that counts.”
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Green: STRIPED ANIMALS
CLOWNFISH, HONEYBEE, TIGER, ZEBRA
These animals are recognized for visible stripes or bands. Tigers and zebras are the most immediate matches, while clownfish and honeybees complete the group.
Blue: ASSOCIATED WITH RAINBOWS
DOROTHY GALE, LEPRECHAUN, PRIDE, UNICORN
DOROTHY GALE points to “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz. A LEPRECHAUN is conventionally linked with a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. PRIDE connects to the rainbow Pride flag, while UNICORN appears in the familiar “rainbows and unicorns” expression.
Rank #2
Purple: BEGINNING WITH NUMBER HOMOPHONES
FIEVEL, FOREHEAD, TOUCAN, WONDER
The opening sounds of these words resemble number names:
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- FIEVEL starts with a sound like “five.”
- FOREHEAD starts with “four.”
- TOUCAN starts with “two.”
- WONDER starts with “one.”
This is a sound-based category rather than a strict spelling match. It is also the most difficult group to spot while all 16 tiles are on the board; it becomes much clearer after the other 12 words have been removed.
Why Connections #912 is tricky
The puzzle includes several plausible associations that lead away from the intended groups. For example, COUNT, HONEYBEE, LEPRECHAUN, and TIGER can suggest cereal mascots: Count Chocula, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, and Tony the Tiger. That is a tempting theme, but it does not form one of the four official groups.
TOUCAN can also look like it belongs with colorful or rainbow-associated creatures. In the actual solution, however, it belongs with the number-sound words because “toucan” begins like “two.” The rainbow group is cultural and symbolic rather than a category of colorful animals.
A practical way to solve this puzzle
- Start with the obvious animal pattern. CLOWNFISH, HONEYBEE, TIGER, and ZEBRA all have stripes or banding.
- Look for words meaning “take into account.” CONSIDER, COUNT, FACTOR, and INCLUDE form the yellow group.
- Search the remaining words for rainbow references. DOROTHY GALE, LEPRECHAUN, PRIDE, and UNICORN connect through songs, folklore, symbolism, and common expression.
- Use elimination for the final group. Say FIEVEL, FOREHEAD, TOUCAN, and WONDER aloud and listen for five, four, two, and one.
Which December 9 Connections puzzle is this?
The date needs a year because the New York Times reused the calendar date for different puzzles. Connections #912 is the Tuesday, December 9, 2025 puzzle. The December 9, 2024 puzzle was a different game, numbered #547, with a different set of answers.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Connections is a New York Times game in which players organize 16 words or phrases into four groups of four based on a shared connection. The game is available through the New York Times Games website and app, and player statistics are shown after a puzzle is completed. A wrong guess uses one of the game’s limited mistakes, so identifying red herrings before submitting a group is important.
Best Value
- Find hundreds of words in an easy to read format - Some words you'll spot easily, but you'll have to search hard for others.
- A wide range of puzzle topics, including movies, actors, sports, cars, and more!
- Variations on the standard word search puzzles are included for extra challenge.
- Answer key in the back of the book.
- Spiral bound, 192 pages.
Want more Connections puzzles?
For readers who prefer solving away from a screen, The New York Times Connections puzzle book is a natural follow-up: it is a print collection built around the same category-matching format. A broader alternative is Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More!, which combines Connections-style material with several other New York Times Games formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date is NYT Connections #912?
Connections #912 was published on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. It is different from the December 9, 2024 puzzle, which was game #547.
What is the purple group in Connections #912?
The purple group is BEGINNING WITH NUMBER HOMOPHONES: FIEVEL sounds like “five,” FOREHEAD begins with “four,” TOUCAN begins with “two,” and WONDER begins with “one.”
What is the rainbow group in Connections #912?
The blue group is ASSOCIATED WITH RAINBOWS: DOROTHY GALE, LEPRECHAUN, PRIDE, and UNICORN.
The Bottom Line
The answer to NYT Connections #912, published Tuesday, December 9, 2025, is: CONSIDER, COUNT, FACTOR, INCLUDE for BEAR IN MIND; CLOWNFISH, HONEYBEE, TIGER, ZEBRA for STRIPED ANIMALS; DOROTHY GALE, LEPRECHAUN, PRIDE, UNICORN for ASSOCIATED WITH RAINBOWS; and FIEVEL, FOREHEAD, TOUCAN, WONDER for BEGINNING WITH NUMBER HOMOPHONES.
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