Today’s NYT Connections (Puzzle #925) for December 22, 2025, starts off with a rush but ends with a tricky linguistic twist. The Purple category is one of those “word within a word” challenges that requires you to look past the literal meaning of the terms on the board.
If you are struggling to sort the “Business” from the “Future,” we have the full breakdown below.
Difficulty Level
Today’s puzzle is moderately difficult, largely due to the Purple category.
- Yellow & Green: Fairly straightforward synonyms.
- Blue: A common association category.
- Purple: Requires lateral thinking (manipulating the spelling of words).
Hints for Today’s Groups
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here are the themes for each color-coded group:
- Yellow Group Hint: A sudden large amount of something arriving. (Think: flooding in).
- Green Group Hint: What comes next? Synonyms for “after” or “upcoming.”
- Blue Group Hint: Rectangular paper or plastic items you keep in a wallet or drawer.
- Purple Group Hint: Take a common color (like “Brown”) and remove the very last letter.
Spoilers Below!
Warning: The sections below contain the direct answers for today’s puzzle.
Yellow Group Answer
Theme: Influx
- RASH
- RUSH
- SURGE
- WAVE
Green Group Answer
Theme: Subsequent
- COMING
- FOLLOWING
- FUTURE
- LATER
Blue Group Answer
Theme: Kinds of Cards
- BUSINESS
- GREETING
- MEMBERSHIP
- PLAYING
Purple Group Answer
Theme: Colors Minus Last Letter
- BROW (Brown)
- CYA (Cyan)
- PIN (Pink)
- WHIT (White)
Puzzle Analysis
The trickiest part of today’s puzzle is undoubtedly the Purple group. Words like “BROW” and “PIN” look like standard nouns, which can lead you down the wrong path. “WHIT” might make you think of “iotas” or small amounts. The “aha!” moment comes when you realize “CYA” isn’t a typo or an abbreviation for “See Ya,” but rather “Cyan” without the “n.”
The Blue group (“Kinds of Cards”) is also a little dangerous because “Business” and “Future” (Green) can sometimes be associated in corporate-speak, potentially causing a mix-up.
How to Play Connections
If you are new to the daily challenge, here is the breakdown:
- Grid: You start with 16 words.
- Goal: Group them into four sets of four words that share a common theme.
- Mistakes: You have four lives. If you guess a group incorrectly, you lose a life.
- Colors: The groups are color-coded by difficulty:
- Yellow: Easiest
- Green: Medium
- Blue: Hard
- Purple: Tricky/Abstract
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the answer to the Purple group in Connections today?
The Purple group answers are BROW, CYA, PIN, and WHIT. The theme is “Colors Minus Last Letter.”
When does the Connections puzzle reset?
The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.
