Connections Hints: Dec 28, 2025

This page shows spoiler-layered hints for the NYT Connections puzzle published on Dec 28, 2025 (2025-12-28). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full group breakdown when you're ready.

Meta: Puzzle #972

Puzzle #972 · 2025-12-28

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 #972 for 2025-12-28, 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: CONTAINERS FOR SHIPPING, UNMOVING, MECHANICAL WATCH PARTS 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.

CONTAINERS FOR SHIPPING
UNMOVING
MECHANICAL WATCH PARTS
DOGS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED

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.

CONTAINERS FOR SHIPPING

BOX

ENVELOPE

MAILER

TUBE

UNMOVING

CONSTANT

STATIC

STATIONARY

STILL

MECHANICAL WATCH PARTS

GEAR

PAWL

RATCHET

SPRING

DOGS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED

DUSKY

NOODLE

PERRIER

SOXER

Reveal full answer

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