Connections Hints: Dec 23, 2025

This page shows spoiler-layered hints for the NYT Connections puzzle published on Dec 23, 2025 (2025-12-23). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full group breakdown when you're ready.

Meta: Puzzle #973

Puzzle #973 · 2025-12-23

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #973 for 2025-12-23, edition main, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: VULNERABILITY, FREUDIAN CONCEPTS, CHARACTERS IN CAPES and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

  • VULNERABILITY
  • FREUDIAN CONCEPTS
  • CHARACTERS IN CAPES
  • STARTING WITH SLANG FOR SAUSAGE

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

VULNERABILITY

ACHILLES’ HEEL
DOWNFALL
KRYPTONITE
SOFT SPOT

FREUDIAN CONCEPTS

FIXATION
OEDIPUS COMPLEX
SUPEREGO
UNCONSCIOUS

CHARACTERS IN CAPES

DARTH VADER
DRACULA
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
SUPERMAN

STARTING WITH SLANG FOR SAUSAGE

BRATZ
DOGMA
FRANKENSTEIN
LINKLATER

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.

VULNERABILITY

ACHILLES’ HEEL
DOWNFALL
KRYPTONITE
SOFT SPOT

FREUDIAN CONCEPTS

FIXATION
OEDIPUS COMPLEX
SUPEREGO
UNCONSCIOUS

CHARACTERS IN CAPES

DARTH VADER
DRACULA
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
SUPERMAN

STARTING WITH SLANG FOR SAUSAGE

BRATZ
DOGMA
FRANKENSTEIN
LINKLATER

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