NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Monday, December 9 (game #547)

Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

  • RAY
  • FACTOR
  • LIGHTER
  • STAIN
  • MICROSCOPE
  • GAMES
  • CONSIDERATION
  • MAGNIFYING GLASS
  • REFLECTION
  • MATCHES
  • SLIDE
  • THOUGHT
  • FLINT
  • FILES
  • SCRUTINY
  • SPECIMEN

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: Ponder this 
  • GREEN: It’s going to burn
  • BLUE: In the lab
  • PURPLE: The truth is out there

Need more clues?

We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: DELIBERATION 
  • GREEN: USED IN STARTING A FIRE 
  • BLUE: USED TO VIEW A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE 
  • PURPLE: WORDS AFTER “X” 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

The answers to today’s Connections, game #547, are…

  • YELLOW: DELIBERATION CONSIDERATION, REFLECTION, SCRUTINY, THOUGHT
  • GREEN: USED IN STARTING A FIRE FLINT, LIGHTER, MAGNIFYING GLASS, MATCHES
  • BLUE: USED TO VIEW A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE MICROSCOPE, SLIDE, SPECIMEN, STAIN
  • PURPLE: WORDS AFTER “X” FACTOR, FILES, GAMES, RAY

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

It’s getting near that Christmas family quiz time again, so here’s a quick 1980s pop trivia question for you inspired by today’s Connections: How many people can you name who are mentioned in Billy Joel’s hit We Didn’t Start The Fire?

I’ll leave that with you.

Before you look it up: Bonus self-satisfaction points if you get any in the correct order.

USED TO START A FIRE was the first thing to leap out from the grid, although I did initially think MAGNIFYING GLASS and MICROSCOPE belonged together.

Of the WORDS AFTER X it was FILES that I saw first, ahead of the more obvious RAY. Possibly, because I’m still holding a candle (or should that be lighter) for Scully. Surely, the easiest Purple group seen for a couple of weeks. DELIBERATION didn’t take much THOUGHT either – well not as much as trying to remember what Billy rhymed with Charles de Gaulle.


  • YELLOW: PUNCH BELT, BLOW, SLUG, SOCK
  • GREEN: CRAM SANDWICH, SHOEHORN, SQUEEZE, WEDGE
  • BLUE: COMPANIES NAMED AFTER ANIMALS CATERPILLAR, DOVE, GREYHOUND, PUMA
  • PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF MUSIC GENRES INDY, METTLE, SEOUL, WRAP

Related posts

This modern cassette player with Bluetooth (and matching retro wireless headphones) might’ve been my favorite music experience at CES 2025

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cameras could get both downgrades and upgrades this year

Lenovo’s AI-driven prototype display continuously assesses your physical activity, but it says we shouldn’t worry

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read More