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NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle challenging players to group 16 words into four themed sets.
The puzzle presents players with words randomly organized, and they need to arrange them into groups.
Today's themes will transport players to various aspects of daily life, from surge in demand to color shades.
NYT Connections’ December 22 grid is live with a wide range of themes, ranging from a sudden rise in demand to different types of cards to four color shades but with a twist. Apparently when you see the 16 words, they don't really make any sense. None of them have a prominent connection to others. Therefore, sound word knowledge is necessary.
If you are struggling with today’s NYT Connections, and can’t determine the exact categories, here’re the clues and solution to the December 22 NYT Connections puzzle. Finding the correct four words to make each set may require some help, but the final solution will satisfy you for sure.
NYT experts rate the Connections puzzles out of 5 to hint at the difficulty level. Today’s one is rated 2 out of 5. Players’ personal ratings may differ, but today’s themes, according to the experts, are extremely easy without much complexity. Still, those who are struggling to figure it out, here are the hints to make the process easier. Let's start with the hints category-wise:
Easiest Group (Yellow): Today’s yellow group words are connected to a sudden rise of demand.
Moderate Group (Green): This group will contain words that people generally use to indicate after.
Challenging Group (Blue): This group will have four words that are associated with different types of cards that we use for different occasions.
Most Difficult Group (Purple): This is the final category, and these words are associated with color shades but with a little twist.
Also Read: How to Make Your Own NYT Connections Game?
With the above hints, solvers must have reached near the themes of today’s Connections, but, if there are the words to form them, below are the solutions to check out:
Yellow Category (INFLUX): RASH, RUSH, SURGE, WAVE
Green Category (SUBSEQUENT): COMING, FOLLOWING, FUTURE, LATER
Blue Category (KINDS OF CARDS): BUSINESS, GREETING, MEMBERSHIP, PLAYING
Purple Category (COLORS MINUS LAST LETTER): BROW, CYA, PIN, WHIT
For further clarity, check out the image below:
These are the four categories for today’s puzzle, and hopefully, most players have guessed the word sets without the answer. So, congratulations to all who have solved it!
Unlike traditional crosswords or word searches, NYT Connections asks players to identify subtle connections between the given words and form four groups of four. Connections presents a grid of 16 words, and the objective is to group these words into four sets of four words.
The twist is that each set must be formed while adhering to a specific theme. To solve this puzzle, players must be aware of the connection between particular words.
NYT Connections presents a major twist everyday and that’s the most attractive part of this puzzle. This puzzle appeals to those who love challenges. Unlike others, this puzzle offers four different themes every day, making it both complicated and exciting. These themes never get repeated. Therefore, the solutions require a solid vocabulary to identify connections between words.
Also Read: NYT Strands December 21, 2025 Puzzle: Spangram, Theme Words Explained
