'Connections' December 29: Hints and answers for puzzle #567

If you enjoy playing Connections and need some helpful hints and tips, then Newsweek has got you covered.

The brainteaser was launched by The New York Times in June 2023 and has gone on to become the newspaper's second-most played game behind Wordle, another word-based puzzle.

Connections challenges players to uncover threads connecting a series of words. Instructions on how to play the game are below. Clues and the answers for today's puzzle are toward the end of the article.

How To Play Connections

Connections is a word puzzle game where the goal is to group 16 words into four sets of four based on shared themes, categories or characteristics. The words are presented in a grid, and while some associations are straightforward, others are more subtle or ambiguous.

Players must analyze the grid, identify potential relationships, and test their hypotheses by selecting four words they believe belong together. If the selection is correct, the group is locked in, narrowing down the remaining words. Players must successfully form all four groups to complete the puzzle, with a limited number of attempts allowed to increase the challenge.

To succeed in Connections, players need to think creatively and critically, considering both obvious and less apparent connections. Some groups may rely on straightforward categories like colors, professions or animals, while others may involve wordplay, homonyms, or cultural references.

Strategic thinking is essential; it's often helpful to start with the most distinct or clear-cut group and work toward the more complex ones. Since incorrect guesses can cost valuable attempts, players should carefully evaluate their choices and double-check potential connections before committing.

The answers for today's Connections puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll with caution if you want to work them out yourself.

'Connections' #567 Clues for Sunday, December 29

Yellow: Relates to a color.

Green: Information you may find on an invitation.

Blue: Relates to hair.

Purple: Relates to trees.

'Connections' #567 Answers for Sunday, December 29

Yellow Category: SHADES OF RED

Yellow Words: Brick, Cherry, Maroon, Ruby

Green Category: APPOINTMENT SPECIFICATIONS

Green Words: Date, Duration, Location, Time

Blue Category: DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF HAIR

Blue Words: Head, Lock, Strand, Wisp

Purple Category: TREE HOMOPHONES

Purple Words: Beach, Fur, Pair, You

Did you guess the answers correctly? If so, congratulations. If not, there will be another opportunity to crack the puzzle tomorrow.

Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone. Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips for each new game.