Connections #916 relies heavily on misdirection. Several words appear to point toward pop culture or literature at first glance.
The Purple category was the hardest to spot. Greek mythological names were altered by removing one letter, making them easy to overlook.
Familiar topics still require careful thinking. Even well-known themes like fashion styles and New York Mets legends weren’t instantly obvious.
NYT Connections #916 for December 13, 2025, is a deceptively tough puzzle that plays with expectations and wordplay. Many players were initially led astray by familiar cultural references before realizing the deeper patterns at work. Today’s puzzle blends fashion trends, silent letters, sports history, and classical mythology, with one category adding an extra layer of misdirection. Below are the official Connections hints, categories, and final answers to help you crack today’s challenge.
If you want a clearer push toward the solution, here are the four official categories for today’s NYT Connections puzzle:
Yellow: Wide-legged pant styles
Green: Words with a silent ‘T’
Blue: New York Mets legends
Purple: Greek mythological figures, with a twist
Also Read: NYT Connections Hints and Answers for December 12, 2025 (Puzzle #915)
Use these subtle clues to guide your guesses without revealing everything at once:
Yellow hint: Fashion items known for loose, flowing legs
Green hint: Words where a specific consonant isn’t pronounced
Blue hint: Iconic players from a famous New York baseball team
Purple hint: Mythological names, but slightly altered
These hints should help you avoid common traps and group the words more confidently.
Here are the correct groupings for NYT Connections puzzle #916:
Yellow (Wide-legged pant styles): Culotte, Gaucho, Harem, Palazzo
Green (Silent “T”): Apostle, Depot, Mortgage, Poirot
Blue (New York Mets legends): Gooden, Piazza, Seaver, Strawberry
Purple (Greek mythological figures minus a letter): Aja (Ajax), Are (Ares), Her (Hera), Hercule (Hercules)
Once all four sets are placed correctly, the puzzle locks in as complete.
December 13’s puzzle excelled at misdirection. The Yellow category was fairly approachable for players familiar with fashion terminology, while the Blue category rewarded sports fans who recognized legendary Mets players.
The real difficulty came from the Green and Purple groups. Words like Poirot and Apostle don’t immediately suggest silent letters, and the Purple category cleverly removed a single letter from well-known mythological names, making them harder to spot. Many players mistook these for pop culture or literary references before noticing the pattern.
Also Read: NYT Connections Hints and Answers for December 11, 2025 (Puzzle #914)
NYT Connections #916 is a strong example of how clever wordplay can elevate a daily puzzle from simple to memorable. With its mix of fashion, phonetics, sports history, and mythology, today’s grid demanded patience and careful thinking. If this one took you longer than usual, you’re not alone, it was designed to challenge even experienced solvers.
Check back tomorrow for fresh hints, full answers, and expert breakdowns for the next NYT Connections puzzle.