When you are struggling with today’sConnectionspuzzle, you might be wondering what you can do to correct it. There are multiple solutions possible,but having some hints and tricks are always helpful to give you access to those solutions.There are some confusing pieces to today’s puzzle, and one category is much less about the words themselves than what they make together. That is why having a nudge in the right direction can be crucial to making it through a puzzle.
If you want a puzzle that is a little harder but with no limits on guesses, then you may want to try theNYT’sLetter Boxedpuzzle. The lack of limits makes a big difference in how you go about solving the puzzle,and it makes you feel a little more free in being able to experiment a little and see what works one piece at a time. The 4-guess limit inConnectionsalways felt restrictive, especially if you are unfamiliar with some of the words, so this feels a lot better.

Today’s Connections Category Hints
DECEMBER 24 #562
Today’s categories are an interesting mix, and some of them I myself would never get without a little help. I was very close to one of them several times and did not see what the right final word was. There are a lot of possible options in some of these categories andone of them is another one of those “so obvious it feels like it must be wrong” categories. To help you decipher the puzzle, here are four hints:
NYT Mini Crossword: 8 Strategies To Solve It Fast
This tricky little five by five crossword isn’t always as easy as it looks; here are a couple easy tips and tricks to beat your friends' times!
If these hints are not enough for you to finish solving the puzzle, there is still more help to be had with this puzzle.

“LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!”
OH MY
TIGERS
All of these words were, at least for me, lined up on the top row of the category. I felt sure that it was all a trick and that these four words and phrases couldn’t possibly go in the same category because that would be ridiculous. However,while I tried to form a sports team mascot category instead, I did learn that no, it was not too obvious, and sometimes I shouldn’t attempt to make the puzzle that much harder for myself. Alas, at least I didn’t have to face down a lion or tiger or bear.
INTIMATE
TIGHT
This one felt pretty straightforward to me.Nothing else really had the same meaning that was being sought after in this category, so it felt easier to construct it. The only thing that caught my attention that might go elsewhere was TIGHT, as I thought there might be a category for things people might say with words like BYE, GIMME, or OH MY. That turned out not to be the case early on, so I didn’t have a problem when I got to this category.
Wordle History: Today’s Answer & All Past Words
Wordle is a simple daily word game that has taken the internet by storm. With only 6 chances to get the right answer, players may need a little help.
JAYS
USE
Alternatively, this category was a big problem for me. It was a category that didn’t make full sense andall of the solutions I thought I had turned out to be wrong. I had BEES, EASE, and USE together for multiple guesses, making it infuriating to keep seeing “one away” while I struggled. However, I never would have put JAYS here I don’t think, even if I had had more guesses. It didn’t help that I had no idea what the next category was, and I don’t think I would’ve gotten that one either.
GIMME
PLEASE
I love music, I just don’t generally follow pop music. Even artists I really like I don’t keep up with as much as I should as I have a bad habit of just listening to my favorite songs on repeat instead of listening to anything new. That being said BYE is the only one I likely would have recognized,and only because this one was played at every single school dance as a way of telling us to leave. Please don’t hate me for not listening to what are apparently the most popular hit songs.
Other Games Like Connections
If you still feel like doing a puzzle,check out the following onesin the box below.
Is It Free To Play?
Wordle(NYT)
Solve a random five-letter word by using color clues.EveryWordleanswercan be found in our daily updated list.
Yes
Crosswordle
Find the two words that intersect each other like a crossword puzzle.
The Password Game
Create a password in this ever-changing, not-so-simple game. You can find somehelpful tips in ourPassword Gameguide.


