A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #570
hints & answers for January 1, 2025

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows January 1, 2025. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with E, E, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

EARTHWORM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SLIMY ANIMALS

Reveal all four words
  • EARTHWORM
  • EEL
  • SALAMANDER
  • SLUG

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, F, G and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

AURORA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT LUMINESCE

Reveal all four words
  • AURORA
  • FIREFLY
  • GLOWSTICK
  • RADIUM

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, C, T and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CANAL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DUTCH SYMBOLS

Reveal all four words
  • CANAL
  • CLOG
  • TULIP
  • WINDMILL

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with G, R, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GATECRASH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “PLUNGE”

Reveal all four words
  • GATECRASH
  • RAINDROP
  • SKYDIVE
  • WATERFALL
Show categories only
  • Yellow: SLIMY ANIMALS
  • Green: THINGS THAT LUMINESCE
  • Blue: DUTCH SYMBOLS
  • Purple: ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “PLUNGE”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SLIMY ANIMALS

EARTHWORM · EEL · SALAMANDER · SLUG

Green

THINGS THAT LUMINESCE

AURORA · FIREFLY · GLOWSTICK · RADIUM

Blue

DUTCH SYMBOLS

CANAL · CLOG · TULIP · WINDMILL

Purple

ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “PLUNGE”

GATECRASH · RAINDROP · SKYDIVE · WATERFALL

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.