Connections Hints

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — December 14, 2025

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

BABE
CALF
CHALK
COLONEL
DUCKLING
EMPEROR
FAWN
FLATTER
GUSH
MERMAID
NAPOLEON
PIGLET
PORKY
PRAISE
PRINCESS
WOULD
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

LAY IT ON THICKStraightforward
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON FIGURESModerate
SILENT "L"Tricky
FICTIONAL PIGSDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

LAY IT ON THICKStraightforward
THESE WORDS ALL MEAN TO HEAP ON EXCESSIVE COMPLIMENTS+ 3 more…
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON FIGURESModerate
CHARACTERS FROM A FAMOUS DANISH STORYTELLER'S FAIRY TALES+ 3 more…
SILENT "L"Tricky
WORDS WHERE THE LETTER L HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT BUT STAYS QUIET+ 3 more…
FICTIONAL PIGSDevious
FAMOUS SWINE FROM MOVIES, BOOKS, AND CARTOONS+ 3 more…
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Full solution
LAY IT ON THICKStraightforward
FAWN,FLATTER,GUSH,PRAISE

FAWN, FLATTER, GUSH, and PRAISE all mean to compliment or admire someone excessively or effusively.

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON FIGURESModerate
DUCKLING,EMPEROR,MERMAID,PRINCESS

The DUCKLING, EMPEROR, MERMAID, and PRINCESS are all iconic figures from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales (The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea).

SILENT "L"Tricky
CALF,CHALK,COLONEL,WOULD

CALF, CHALK, COLONEL, and WOULD all contain a silent 'L' that is written but not pronounced.

FICTIONAL PIGSDevious
BABE,NAPOLEON,PIGLET,PORKY

BABE (the movie pig), NAPOLEON (from Animal Farm), PIGLET (from Winnie-the-Pooh), and PORKY (Looney Tunes) are all fictional pigs from popular culture.

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