.png){kind=logo}
Yellow and blue groups rely on familiar objects and mechanical terms, easing early progress.
The green group emphasizes unmoving concepts, reinforcing straightforward thematic connections.
The purple group challenges solvers with playful letter changes to reveal dog breeds.
The NYT Connections puzzle for December 28 is a combination of clever categorization and playful word manipulation. At first, this grid seems easy, but one group brings a subtle twist that poses a challenge to the assumptions. The puzzle, in general, is placed at a medium level of difficulty, encouraging thorough observation and the use of pattern recognition as the main means of securing success.
NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle that requires players to categorize 16 words into four groups of four words each. All words in the group must have a one-word hidden theme in common. There is only one correct solution, and the players are allowed to take up to three wrong guesses before the game is declared over. The categories are color-coded from yellow to purple according to their difficulty, which helps in determining the order in which the attempts will be made.
Mailer
Static
Gear
Perrier
Tube
Still
Pawl
Box
Dusky
Spring
Envelope
Constant
Soxer
Ratchet
Noodle
Stationary
Yellow Group: Items for sending or shipping
Blue Group: Mechanical pieces to build or repair
Green Group: Staying in place or unmoving
Purple Group: Change the first letter to reveal the theme
Yellow: Box
Blue: Gear
Green: Still
Purple: Perrier
Yellow - Containers for shipping: Box, Envelope, Mailer, Tube
Blue - Mechanical watch parts: Gear, Pawl, Ratchet, Spring
Green - Unmoving: Constant, Static, Stationary, Still
Purple - Dogs with first letter changed: Dusky (Husky), Noodle (Poodle), Perrier (Terrier), Soxer (Boxer)
The purple group stands out for its playful word twist, requiring players to manipulate letters rather than focus on meaning alone.
The yellow and blue groups are obvious, but the PAWL might confuse people who do not know the watch parts very well. The green is very simple once you realize that static and still refer to the same concept. The purple group challenges the puzzlers, using letter alterations to hide dog breeds. In general, the puzzle combines logic with wordplay.
The NYT Connections puzzle from December 28 combines ordinary concepts and creative twists. It is the combination of distinct categories and very subtle letter manipulations that keep the grid interesting. This puzzle is a great way to practice pattern recognition, flexible thinking, and the joy of discovering hidden connections, which makes it a wonderful ending to the year’s last weekend of NYT Connections today.
