NYT Connections today — my hints and answers for Wednesday, December 18 (game #556)
Nice console games 
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.
NYT Connections today (game #556) – today’s words
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
- TACKLE
- ТЕАРОТ
- HOLD
- ONION
- SHORT
- FIELD
- STOUT
- HEDGE
- HANDLE
- SOUR
- TRADE
- CAPITOL
- BITTER
- CHROME
- MANAGE
- BOCK
NYT Connections today (game #556) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Under control
- GREEN: Alternative brews
- BLUE: Stocks and shares
- PURPLE: Arched structure
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…
NYT Connections today (game #556) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: DEAL WITH
- GREEN: STYLES OF BEER
- BLUE: INVESTMENT VERBS
- PURPLE: _DOME
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #556) – the answers
The answers to today’s Connections, game #556, are…
- YELLOW: DEAL WITH FIELD, HANDLE, MANAGE, TACKLE
- GREEN: STYLES OF BEER BITTER, BOCK, SOUR, STOUT
- BLUE: INVESTMENT VERBS HEDGE, HOLD, SHORT, TRADE
- PURPLE: _DOME CAPITOL, CHROME, ONION, TEAPOT
- My rating: Moderate
- My score: 1 mistake
I’m a little TEAPOT, SHORT and STOUT, here’s my HANDLE, here’s my spout, when I get all steamed up, Hear me shout, Tip me over and pour me out!
Yes I did fall for this little red herring – although usually these little tricks only contain three words. Naughty.
This blind alley aside, the groups were quite straightforward today, especially if you were a bit parched and dreaming of a refreshing beverage – although the distinctive taste of BITTER, BOCK, SOUR and STOUT beers are not everyone’s cup of tea.
Cheers.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 17 December, game #555)
- YELLOW: INTREPIDITY GRIT, HEART, NERVE, PLUCK
- GREEN: ROAD ARTERY, AVENUE, DRAG, DRIVE
- BLUE: KINDS OF PAPER CONSTRUCTION, GRAPH, TISSUE, WAX
- PURPLE: KINDS OF TENNIS COURTS CARPET, CLAY, GRASS, HARD
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
