NYT Connections Hints for Dec. 28 Puzzle #931 Explained Clearly

NYT Connections hints for December 28 focus on Puzzle #931, released by The New York Times on Saturday, December 28, 2025. The daily word game challenged players with mechanical terms, altered dog breeds, and subtle vocabulary traps.

The puzzle stood out for its difficulty, especially due to lesser-known words like “pawl.” Many players required hints before identifying all four correct groups.

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for December 28

The New York Times Connections puzzle asks players to group 16 words into four connected categories. Each group shares a hidden theme. The December 28 edition mixed common language with technical and playful word shifts.

According to the New York Times Games team, the puzzle was designed to test both vocabulary range and pattern recognition. The inclusion of mechanical terms raised the difficulty level.

Here are the four official hint categories, ranked from easiest to hardest:

• Yellow group hint: Send me something.
• Green group hint: Frozen in place.
• Blue group hint: What time is it?
• Purple group hint: Woof!

Confirmed answers for NYT Connections #931:

• Yellow group – Containers for shipping: box, envelope, mailer, tube
• Green group – Unmoving: constant, static, stationary, still
• Blue group – Mechanical watch parts: gear, pawl, ratchet, spring
• Purple group – Dogs with first letter changed: dusky, noodle, Perrier, soxer

The purple group required creative thinking. Each word is a dog breed with its first letter altered. For example, husky becomes dusky, and poodle becomes noodle.

The blue group proved most challenging. Many players were unfamiliar with “pawl,” a real mechanical component used in watches and ratchet systems. This caused confusion even after some correct matches.

Why NYT Connections Puzzle #931 Was Tricky

The December 28 puzzle relied heavily on cross-domain knowledge. Players needed familiarity with shipping terms, physics language, mechanical engineering, and wordplay.

The mechanical watch parts category required precise knowledge. While gear and spring are common, pawl and ratchet are less frequently used in everyday language.

The dog-name wordplay group added another layer of difficulty. The altered spellings appeared unrelated at first glance, leading many players to misgroup them.

The New York Times Games section encourages players to review completed puzzles using the Connections Bot. This feature analyzes performance and provides a numerical score.

Registered users can also track long-term progress. Metrics include win rate, completed puzzles, and perfect scores. These tools help players refine strategy over time.

NYT Connections hints remain a valuable resource for players who want guidance without immediate spoilers.

NYT Connections continues to grow in popularity as part of the Times’ expanding word game portfolio.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What are NYT Connections hints?

NYT Connections hints are clues that guide players toward the correct word groupings without revealing full answers. They help reduce trial-and-error frustration.

Q2: What made NYT Connections #931 difficult?

The puzzle included technical terms like “pawl” and relied on altered spellings of dog breeds. These elements required niche knowledge and creative thinking.

Q3: What is a pawl in NYT Connections?

A pawl is a mechanical component used in ratchet systems, including watches. It prevents backward motion in moving parts.

Q4: How many groups are in NYT Connections?

Each Connections puzzle has four groups of four words. Every group shares one hidden common theme.

Q5: Where can players review their NYT Connections results?

Players can use the Connections Bot in the New York Times Games section. It provides scoring and gameplay analysis.