Connections Hints
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — December 18, 2025
Jump to a hint level
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
← Back to hint toolLoad any date with the interactive hint ladder
Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
BUTTERFLY
DAYDREAM
FANCY
FANTASY
FELT
GLITTER
HERO
ILLUSION
LEAD
MEDIA
PIPE CLEANER
POMPOM
PRINCIPAL
SECURITY
STAR
WORKER
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
BIT OF WISHFUL THINKINGStraightforward
PROTAGONISTModerate
COMPONENT OF AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTTricky
SOCIAL ___Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
BIT OF WISHFUL THINKINGStraightforward
THESE WORDS DESCRIBE THINGS YOUR MIND CONJURES UP THAT AREN'T QUITE REAL+ 3 more…
PROTAGONISTModerate
WORDS FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER OR CENTRAL FIGURE IN A STORY+ 3 more…
COMPONENT OF AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTTricky
THINGS YOU'D FIND IN A CRAFT SUPPLY BIN AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL+ 3 more…
SOCIAL ___Devious
EACH OF THESE WORDS CAN FOLLOW 'SOCIAL' TO MAKE A COMMON COMPOUND WORD OR PHRASE+ 3 more…
Full solution
BIT OF WISHFUL THINKINGStraightforward
DAYDREAM,FANCY,FANTASY,ILLUSION
DAYDREAM, FANCY, FANTASY, and ILLUSION all refer to imagined or wishful thoughts that aren't grounded in reality
PROTAGONISTModerate
HERO,LEAD,PRINCIPAL,STAR
HERO, LEAD, PRINCIPAL, and STAR all describe the main protagonist or central figure of a production or story
COMPONENT OF AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTTricky
FELT,GLITTER,PIPE CLEANER,POMPOM
FELT, GLITTER, PIPE CLEANER, and POMPOM are all common materials used in arts and crafts projects
SOCIAL ___Devious
BUTTERFLY,MEDIA,SECURITY,WORKER
BUTTERFLY, MEDIA, SECURITY, and WORKER all follow 'SOCIAL' to form familiar phrases: social butterfly, social media, social security, social worker