NYT Connections today — my hints and answers for Sunday, December 15 (game #553)

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…

  • THUMB
  • KEY
  • LEAF
  • STYLE
  • MACE
  • MAR
  • FLAIL
  • FLIP
  • SPEAR
  • CLOVE
  • TANK
  • PEPPER
  • RIFFLE
  • FLOUNDER
  • NUTMEG
  • FLOP

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

  • YELLOW: Seasonings
  • GREEN: Below par
  • BLUE: Browsing
  • PURPLE: Popular vocalists

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: SPICES
  • GREEN: PERFORM POORLY 
  • BLUE: SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGES 
  • PURPLE: POP SINGERS MINUS “S” 

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 #553, are…

  • YELLOW: SPICES CLOVE, MACE, NUTMEG, PEPPER
  • GREEN: PERFORM POORLY FLAIL, FLOP, FLOUNDER, TANK
  • BLUE: SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGES FLIP, LEAF, RIFFLE, THUMB
  • PURPLE: POP SINGERS MINUS “S” KEY, MAR, SPEAR, STYLE

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

As someone who is known to PERFORM BADLY at Connections, it’s no surprise that I landed on the Green group first today – although I did momentarily think the connection was “Things you do when drunk”.

POP SINGERS MINUS “S” was a good one, especially as SPEAR could have been a weapon along with RIFLE and MACE.

I’m off to listen to Empire State of Mind.


  • YELLOW: FISH FLUKE, MULLET, SOLE, TANG
  • GREEN: WORDS IN AN AUCTION-ENDING PHRASE GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE
  • BLUE: GLOBAL CURRENCIES POUND, REAL, SOL, YUAN
  • PURPLE: WORDS BEFORE “CUP” BUTTER, DIVA, SOLO, WORLD

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