A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #934
hints & answers for December 31, 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 December 31, 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 B, C, F and N. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BALL DROP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Reveal all four words
  • BALL DROP
  • CHAMPAGNE FLUTE
  • FIREWORKS
  • NOISEMAKER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BERMUDA TRIANGLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PLACES WHERE THINGS DISAPPEAR

Reveal all four words
  • BERMUDA TRIANGLE
  • BLACK HOLE
  • COUCH CUSHIONS
  • DRYER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, C, L and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BROTHERLY LOVE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ASSOCIATED WITH PHILADELPHIA

Reveal all four words
  • BROTHERLY LOVE
  • CHEESESTEAK
  • LIBERTY BELL
  • ROCKY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BAY LEAF belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH BODIES OF WATER

Reveal all four words
  • BAY LEAF
  • CHANNEL SURF
  • SEA BASS
  • SOUND BARRIER
Show categories only
  • Yellow: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
  • Green: PLACES WHERE THINGS DISAPPEAR
  • Blue: ASSOCIATED WITH PHILADELPHIA
  • Purple: STARTING WITH BODIES OF WATER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BALL DROP · CHAMPAGNE FLUTE · FIREWORKS · NOISEMAKER

Green

PLACES WHERE THINGS DISAPPEAR

BERMUDA TRIANGLE · BLACK HOLE · COUCH CUSHIONS · DRYER

Blue

ASSOCIATED WITH PHILADELPHIA

BROTHERLY LOVE · CHEESESTEAK · LIBERTY BELL · ROCKY

Purple

STARTING WITH BODIES OF WATER

BAY LEAF · CHANNEL SURF · SEA BASS · SOUND BARRIER

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.