At a Glance
- NYT Connections puzzle from Dec 28, 2025 solved.
- Four groups: containers, unmoving, watch parts, altered dogs.
- Answers include the word “pawl” and playful dog name twists.
- Why it matters: Fans of daily puzzles can see how clues map to answers and appreciate the creative wordplay.
The New York Times’ weekly Connections puzzle for December 28, 2025 has been cracked, revealing the themes, hints and full answer lists for each of its four groups.
Puzzle Overview
The puzzle, numbered #931, presents four color-coded groups. Each group’s theme guides the selection of four related words.
| Group | Theme | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Containers for shipping | box, envelope, mailer, tube |
| Green | Unmoving | constant, static, stationary, still |
| Blue | Mechanical watch parts | gear, pawl, ratchet, spring |
| Purple | Dogs with first letter changed | dusky (husky), noodle (poodle), Perrier (terrier), soxer (boxer) |
Hints and Wordplay
Each group had a hint to aid solvers. The yellow hint was “Send me something,” the green hint “Frozen in place,” the blue hint “What time is it?” and the purple hint “Woof!” The word “pawl,” a key blue answer, required a lookup, adding a twist to the puzzle.
Connections Bot and Player Stats
The Times offers a Connections Bot that analyzes answers, assigns a numeric score, and tracks player progress, including win rate and streaks.

Key Takeaways
- Puzzle date: Dec 28, 2025.
- Four groups with distinct themes and answer sets.
- The blue group’s “pawl” answer needed a lookup, illustrating the puzzle’s challenge level.
- The Times’ bot provides players with performance metrics.
Whether you’re a seasoned Connections enthusiast or a casual solver, the December 28 puzzle showcases the NYT’s knack for combining clever clues with a playful twist.

