Looking for the NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, December 14, 2025? This is game #917. Start with the spoiler-light clues below, then open the answer section when you’re ready to see the four groups and all 16 words.
Hints for Connections #917
Each clue points to one category. They become more revealing as you go.
- Yellow: Over-exaggerate; heap praise on someone.
- Green: Characters from fairy tales.
- Blue: Think of a silent letter. For example, consider “salmon.”
- Purple: “Th-th-that’s all, folks!” points to an animated pig.
Answers for Sunday, December 14
Spoilers below: The complete word bank was DUCKLING, COLONEL, NAPOLEON, PRINCESS, CALF, PIGLET, EMPEROR, FAWN, GUSH, MERMAID, CHALK, PORKY, PRAISE, WOULD, BABE, and FLATTER.
| Color | Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | LAY IT ON THICK | FAWN, FLATTER, GUSH, PRAISE | All mean to flatter someone or offer effusive praise. |
| Green | HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON FIGURES | DUCKLING, EMPEROR, MERMAID, PRINCESS | They point to The Ugly Duckling, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” The Little Mermaid, and “The Princess and the Pea.” The puzzle’s displayed category spells the author’s surname “Anderson”; the correct spelling is Hans Christian Andersen. |
| Blue | SILENT “L” | CALF, CHALK, COLONEL, WOULD | Each word contains an L that is not pronounced. |
| Purple | FICTIONAL PIGS | BABE, NAPOLEON, PIGLET, PORKY | The characters are from Babe, Animal Farm, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Looney Tunes, respectively. |
Why the groups can be tricky
Several words can suggest young animals: FAWN, CALF, and PIGLET. But Connections groups words by a particular shared link, not just a plausible association. The pig-character set offers a useful cross-check: BABE, NAPOLEON, PIGLET, and PORKY fit together, leaving the other words to sort into their own categories.
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Two groups rely on form rather than a straightforward meaning. In the blue group, listen for the unspoken L in each word; in the fairy-tale group, the words stand for story titles rather than characters themselves.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How NYT Connections works
Connections gives players 16 words to sort into four groups of four according to a shared connection. The groups are color-coded by difficulty, and players can make up to four mistakes. TechRadar’s dated guide describes the game as playable online through NYT Games on desktop or mobile. Forbes says access to the full archive of past puzzles is available through an NYT Games subscription; check NYT Games for current access and subscription terms.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
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