NYT Connections Hints December 14: Answers and Groups for Puzzle #917

NYT Connections hints December 14 are now available for puzzle #917, released on December 14, 2025. The daily word game from The New York Times challenged players with themes ranging from silent letters to famous fictional characters.

The puzzle stood out because the purple category, often the hardest, proved to be the most approachable for many players. The game rewarded careful pattern recognition and general cultural knowledge.

NYT Connections Hints December 14 Puzzle Breakdown

The NYT Connections puzzle for December 14 featured four clear thematic groups. Each group contained four words linked by a shared idea, concept, or linguistic trait.

The yellow group focused on expressions related to excessive praise. The clue “Butter up” pointed players toward words associated with flattery. The correct answers were fawn, flatter, gush, and praise.

The green group drew from classic literature. With the hint referencing “The Little Match Girl,” players were guided toward characters created by Hans Christian Andersen. The correct set included duckling, emperor, mermaid, and princess.

The blue group tested pronunciation awareness. The hint referred to a letter that makes no sound. All four answers shared a silent “L,” specifically calf, chalk, colonel, and would.

The purple group was themed around fictional pigs. While often tricky, this category was straightforward for players familiar with pop culture and literature. The four correct answers were Babe, Napoleon, Piglet, and Porky.

According to coverage by The New York Times and CNET, many players found this puzzle more balanced than recent editions. The categories were distinct, and overlap between groups was limited.

How Puzzle #917 Compared to Recent NYT Connections Games

NYT Connections puzzle #917 differed from several recent games that leaned heavily on wordplay or obscure definitions. Instead, this puzzle relied on familiar references and clear linguistic patterns.

Players noted that the fictional pigs category stood out due to its clarity. Recognizable characters from books, animation, and satire made the grouping accessible once identified.

The silent letter category also followed a consistent rule, avoiding misleading pronunciations. This reduced guesswork and rewarded players who slowed down and read each word carefully.

Overall, the December 14 puzzle emphasized logic and recognition over misdirection. That balance has been a recurring theme in recent NYT Connections editions, according to puzzle analysts cited by CNET.

NYT Connections hints December 14 offered a fair challenge with clear themes and recognizable patterns. Puzzle #917 highlighted how balanced design can make even the toughest category feel approachable.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What are NYT Connections hints December 14?

NYT Connections hints December 14 are clues provided to help players identify the four word groups in puzzle #917. Each hint corresponds to one color-coded category.

Q2: What were the hardest categories in puzzle #917?

For many players, no single category was overwhelmingly difficult. The purple group, often the hardest, was easier due to familiar fictional characters.

Q3: What was the theme of the purple group?

The purple group theme was fictional pigs. The answers included Babe, Napoleon, Piglet, and Porky.

Q4: How does NYT Connections differ from Wordle?

NYT Connections focuses on grouping related words instead of guessing a single word. It tests pattern recognition rather than letter placement.

Q5: When is the next NYT Connections puzzle released?

A new NYT Connections puzzle is released daily at midnight local time. Each puzzle is numbered sequentially.