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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchNeed help with NYT Connections puzzle #919 for Tuesday, December 16, 2025? Start with the broad hints below, then reveal the category clues and complete groups when you are ready. The puzzle contains 16 words that must be sorted into four groups of four.
How to use these Connections hints
Try each level before moving to the next. The board allows three incorrect guesses; a fourth wrong guess ends the game. Color labels are commonly used to suggest relative difficulty, but they are not a fixed rule.
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Level 1: broad group hints
- One group consists of four dance names.
- One group refers to descendants or succeeding generations.
- One group contains titles of Alfred Hitchcock films.
- One group is formed by words whose beginnings suggest percussion instruments.
Level 2: category-style clues
- Yellow: Ballroom and Latin dance terms.
- Green: Words meaning descendants, family lines or offspring.
- Blue: Four Hitchcock movie titles.
- Purple: Look at the first sound or letters: bell, chime, drum and rattle.
Spoiler warning: The category names and complete answers appear below.
NYT Connections #919 answers for December 16, 2025
| Color | Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Dances | BOLERO, FOXTROT, MAMBO, QUICKSTEP | Each is the name of a dance. |
| Green | Descendants | BROOD, FAMILY, OFFSPRING, POSTERITY | Each can describe descendants or a continuing family line. |
| Blue | Hitchcock movies | LIFEBOAT, ROPE, SPELLBOUND, SUSPICION | All four are Alfred Hitchcock film titles. |
| Purple | Starting with percussion instruments | BELLHOP, CHIMERA, DRUMROLL, RATTLESNAKE | The starts suggest BELL, CHIME, DRUM and RATTLE respectively. |
Why the purple group is easy to miss
The purple connection depends on the beginning of each word rather than its whole meaning. BELLHOP starts with “bell,” CHIMERA with “chime,” DRUMROLL with “drum,” and RATTLESNAKE with “rattle.” That makes CHIMERA a particularly useful unlock: its mythical-creature meaning is a distraction, while its opening letters supply the intended link.
#1 Best Overall
Several entries also contain chunks associated with movement or action, such as BELLHOP, OFFSPRING, SPELLBOUND, FOXTROT, DRUMROLL and QUICKSTEP. Those overlaps can make an apparent motion-based group seem plausible until the instrument beginnings reveal the stronger pattern.
The complete #919 word list
For reference, the 16 entries were:
POSTERITY, BELLHOP, LIFEBOAT, OFFSPRING, SPELLBOUND, FOXTROT, RATTLESNAKE, MAMBO, CHIMERA, ROPE, BOLERO, DRUMROLL, BROOD, QUICKSTEP, FAMILY and SUSPICION.
Rank #2
About this dated puzzle
Puzzle #919 was published for Tuesday, December 16, 2025. TechRadar, Forbes and Parade independently report the same date, categories and groupings. Connections is available on desktop and mobile. Readers with access to the relevant Games or All Access subscription can use the Connections archive to revisit earlier puzzles; availability and subscription terms can change.
Quick Recap
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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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