Exclusive: "New York Times" Crossword Puzzle #563 Answers for 12/25/24

It's Christmas Day, and it's time for another Connections puzzle from the New York Times! If you've tackled previous holiday puzzles, you know the NYT can be quite clever at subtly incorporating holiday themes.

Need a hand with today's puzzle? This guide provides hints, category-specific help, and even full spoilers – everything but the basic Connections rules.

Words in NYT Connections Puzzle #563 (December 25, 2024):

The puzzle includes: Queen, Star, Cupid, Strong, Rudolph, Sagittarius, Nanny, Comet, Vixen, Moon, Robin Hood, Shannon, Hawkeye, Fey, Jenny, and Planet.

Understanding "Jenny":

The word "Jenny" has multiple meanings: a spinning machine, a female given name, a female animal of certain species, and a nautical slang term for a jib sail.

Hints and Solutions:

General Hints:

1. No category focuses on reindeer names.
2. No category focuses solely on female first names.
3. "Shannon" and "Strong" belong in the same category.

Yellow Category (Easy):

Hint: Consider black holes and satellites.

Answer: Celestial Objects. Words: Comet, Moon, Planet, Star

Green Category (Medium):

Hint: Think Katniss, Artemis, Legolas.

Answer: Archers. Words: Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius

Blue Category (Hard):

Hint: Consider a doe, a hen, a molly.

Answer: Female Animals. Words: Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen

Purple Category (Tricky):

Hint: Think comedians.

Answer: SNL Cast Members. Words: Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong

Complete Solution:

• Yellow - Celestial Objects: Comet, Moon, Planet, Star
• Green - Archers: Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius
• Blue - Female Animals: Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen
• Purple - SNL Cast Members: Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong

Ready to play? Find the New York Times Games Connections puzzle on their website or app.