NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Dec. 14, 2025 (#917)

This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle for December 14, 2025, game #917—not today’s live puzzle. Start with the spoiler-free clues below, then open the answer key when you’re ready.

Spoiler warning: The full groups and all 16 answers appear in the final section.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! (New York Times Games Books)	$26.60	Buy on Amazon
2		The New York Times Strictly Medium Crossword Puzzles Volume 1: 200 Medium Puzzles	$7.75	Buy on Amazon
3		New York Times Games Monday Through Friday 50 Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles Volume 10 (New York...	$8.48	Buy on Amazon
4		The New York Times Monday Through Friday Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles: 50 Puzzles from the Pages...	$13.98	Buy on Amazon
5		The New York Times Mini Crosswords, Volume 1: 150 Easy Fun-Sized Puzzles	$9.15	Buy on Amazon

Hints for Connections #917

Each clue points to a category without naming its four words:

• Yellow: Heap praise on someone; praise them excessively.
• Green: Look for figures from stories by Danish fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen.
• Blue: Consider spelling and pronunciation: each word contains an L that is not pronounced.
• Purple: Think of well-known fictional pigs.

Why the grid can mislead

Some words seem to fit more than one idea. FAWN, CALF, and PIGLET can suggest young animals, while NAPOLEON, EMPEROR, COLONEL, and PRINCESS may evoke leaders or royalty. The categories hinge on more specific connections: excessive praise, Andersen stories, silent-L spelling, and fictional pig characters.

#1 Best Overall

Sale

Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! (New York Times Games Books)

$26.60

Buy on Amazon

Answers for NYT Connections #917

The December 14, 2025 grid had 16 words to sort into four groups of four. The answer key below is corroborated by independent solution guides from Forbes and TechRadar.

Yellow — LAY IT ON THICK

FAWN, FLATTER, GUSH, PRAISE

Green — HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN FIGURES

DUCKLING, EMPEROR, MERMAID, PRINCESS. These refer to the Ugly Duckling, the Emperor from “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” the Little Mermaid, and the Princess and the Pea.

Rank #2

Sale

The New York Times Strictly Medium Crossword Puzzles Volume 1: 200 Medium Puzzles

$7.75

Buy on Amazon

Blue — SILENT “L”

CALF, CHALK, COLONEL, WOULD

Purple — FICTIONAL PIGS

BABE, NAPOLEON, PIGLET, PORKY. The characters are associated with Babe, Animal Farm, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Looney Tunes, respectively.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1

Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! (New York Times Games Books)

$26.60

SaleBestseller No. 2

The New York Times Strictly Medium Crossword Puzzles Volume 1: 200 Medium Puzzles

$7.75

SaleBestseller No. 3

New York Times Games Monday Through Friday 50 Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles Volume 10 (New York Times Super Sunday Crosswords, 10)

$8.48

SaleBestseller No. 4

The New York Times Monday Through Friday Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles: 50 Puzzles from the Pages of The New York Times (New York Times Crossword Puzzles)

$13.98

SaleBestseller No. 5

The New York Times Mini Crosswords, Volume 1: 150 Easy Fun-Sized Puzzles

$9.15

Best Value

Sale

The New York Times Mini Crosswords, Volume 1: 150 Easy Fun-Sized Puzzles

$9.15

Buy on Amazon

Rank #4

Sale

The New York Times Monday Through Friday Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles: 50 Puzzles from the Pages of The New York Times (New York Times Crossword Puzzles)

$13.98

Buy on Amazon

Rank #3

Sale

New York Times Games Monday Through Friday 50 Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles Volume 10 (New York Times Super Sunday Crosswords, 10)

$8.48

Buy on Amazon

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.