December 13, 2025

NYT Connections Hint - December 13, 2025

Hey there, word wranglers! 🎉 December 13th rolled around, and the Connections puzzle greeted me like an old friend with a riddle I couldn’t immediately solve—because of course it did. I stared at these 16 words and mentally tried on harem pants (bold move), whispered the silent 't' (even bolder), cheered for New York Mets legends (I’m still waiting for the parade route), and dove into Greek myth minus a letter (classic twist). Each category teased me in its own way, leading to a day of playful victories. Ready to unpack the lot? Pour your favorite cuppa and let’s untangle today’s puzzle together. ☕️🧩

Word Explanations

  • HERCULE

    • Okay, 'CULOTTE'—fashion lovers know this as a skirt/pants hybrid. Historically, these came to prominence decades ago as a practical choice for women who wanted mobility without sacrificing style. I remember trying a pair once and feeling bold yet comfy—like fashion said, 'You got this.'

  • POIROT

    • 'POIROT' is the iconic detective from Agatha Christie—elegant, observant, and always finding clues others miss. And yep, the 't' is silent! Fun fact: fans love riffing on his Belgian accent and the distinctive little mustache. This one’s a wordplay staple in mystery circles.

  • AJA

    • 'AJA' isn't just a lyric from a 70s staple—it's a name that transforms into 'AJAX' once you add a helper letter. I can’t hear it without picturing a concert scene, the kind where lights flash and the crowd sings every word back in unison. Ah, nostalgia!

  • GAUCHO

    • 'GAUCHO' rolls off the tongue as a nod to South American cowboys, and on the runway? It’s a pant style with a wide, relaxed leg inspired by their iconic wear. I’ve always found it a blend of rugged charm and free-spirited design, like a world traveler’s pants.

  • PALAZZO

    • 'PALAZZO' paints a scene: Italian architecture merged with breezy Italian-inspired fashion. Think luxurious, flowing pants inspired by the grand, airy style of palazzos. Dress it up, dress it down—these say, 'I’m stylish, I’m comfy, and I mean business.'

  • PIAZZA

    • 'PIAZZA' is a New York City and baseball icon—Mike Piazza, the famed Mets catcher whose bat turned the stadium roars into legends. Plus, it’s a city square in Italian culture! Talk about versatile. I picture little piazza cafés where folks meet for coffee and gossip.

  • ARE

    • 'ARE' does double duty: a verb and a Greek myth (Ares) in disguise once you add a helper letter. Tiny, powerful—much like those moments when the puzzle suddenly clicks and a grin spreads across your face.

  • APOSTLE

    • 'APOSTLE' brings to mind the disciples who spread lasting stories—and for today, its silent 't'. I love how wordplay can hold both meaning and a quietly stubborn letter combo in a compact package. It’s like a linguistic riddle in plain sight.

  • STRAWBERRY

    • 'STRAWBERRY' is a ballpark favorite—Darryl Strawberry’s swing became a Mets legend. Outside baseball, it’s the fruit that adds pop to desserts and sweet-smiling mornings. Fun fact: they’re technically not true berries, even though we treat them like the poster fruit of summer.

  • DEPOT

    • 'DEPOT' conjures trains arriving and departing—plus its silent 't' makes it a bit of a sneaky clue. From warehouses to transit points, it’s a place where movement happens daily. I love imagining it as a quiet room that holds countless journeys.

  • CULOTTE

    • Another fashion-forward gem—'CULOTTE' merges skirt and pant in one stylish package. I personally adore how these manage to feel polished while respecting comfort—great for anyone who wants to look good without sacrificing mobility.

  • GOODEN

    • 'GOODEN' is all baseball lightning—Keith Gooden’s arm made history on the mound. Beyond the game, his legacy lives in conversations among fans who relive those highlights like old songs that never get tired of playing on repeat.

  • HER

    • 'HER' is short and sweet, doubling as a pronoun and transforming into 'HERO' with a helper letter. Wordplay like this feels like a tiny magic trick—two seconds to add drama, and suddenly the clue changes the whole puzzle.

  • SEAVER

    • 'SEAVER' soars off the page—Tom Seaver was and remains a name synonymous with pitching mastery. Some fans even call him ‘The Franchise’. I can still hear stadium chants echo his impact whenever someone mentions his name.

  • MORTGAGE

    • 'MORTGAGE'—finance meets the silent 't'. Funny how a word tied to big decisions (and lots of signing) can slip such a letter under our ears’ radar. In everyday life, it’s paperwork and promises; in our puzzle, it’s the quiet champion of its category.

  • HAREM

    • 'HAREM' carries rich cultural references—yet here we meet it as a clothing style, often featuring loose, flowing pants fit for ease and elegance. It even shows up in fashion lines celebrating free-spirited, comfortable chic. A name with layered history, worn beautifully today.

Theme Hints

  1. WIDE-LEGGED PANT STYLES

    • Okay, fashionistas—think comfort meets drama. These words sound like a runway playlist you’d find on repeat during Milan Fashion Week. Fluidity, flair, and a flair for the luxurious.

  2. SILENT "T"

    • Do your ears ever hold back their applause? These speech-defying words have letters that decide not to make a sound—they’re present, but shy. Trust the phonetics.

  3. NEW YORK METS LEGENDS

    • If baseball is America’s pastime, consider icons from Queens as its glittering stars. Think classic hits, legendary at-bats, and no-hitters that are the stuff of fan myths.

  4. GREEK MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURES MINUS A LETTER

    • Tune your literary senses for Greek giants—then subtract a helper letter. The missing piece lets a name sing solo, turning myth into sound bite. Like a puzzle within a word.

Answers Explanation

Click to reveal answers!

  1. WIDE-LEGGED PANT STYLES

    :CULOTTE,GAUCHO,HAREM,PALAZZO

    • Ah, the fashion-forward squad. Think breezy, comfortable, and slightly dramatic—these four have something in common beyond being apparel. Did you know culottes were originally popular among women in the early 20th century for their practicality? Palazzo pants channel Italian-inspired elegance, while gaucho pants borrow from South American riders. Harem pants? They’re named for a loose, draped style often associated with Middle Eastern fashion. Together they’re like cousin styles at a designers’ reunion—if cousins could take on a runway.

  2. SILENT "T"

    :APOSTLE,DEPOT,MORTGAGE,POIROT

    • Think of letters that should say hello—but politely ignore their invite to the party. From apostle (for the devout) to depot (where trains say goodbye) and mortgage (where dreams meet paperwork), these quietly keep their 't' to themselves, even when the spelling tries to convince otherwise.

  3. NEW YORK METS LEGENDS

    :GOODEN,PIAZZA,SEAVER,STRAWBERRY

    • Take me out to the ballgame—specifically, New York Mets history. Gooden and Seaver were ace pitchers, Piazza is a catching legend, and Strawberry helped seal the deal from the outfield. These names evoke the roar of Shea Stadium and the joy (and heartbreak) of a team that’s always had a devoted fanbase.

  4. GREEK MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURES MINUS A LETTER

    :AJA,ARE,HER,HERCULE

    • These names straddle myth and music—but stick a letter in and boom, we’re in ancient Greece. Add an 'A' to form AJA, a 'K' for ARE (Ares), an 'S' to become HER, and drop an 'U' to transform HERCULE into a classic mythological hero. Clever, right?

Well, there we have it! 🎯 Today's puzzle took me on a wild ride from fashion runways to ballpark legends—though I’m still not sure I can pull off harem pants with confidence. The silent 't' category almost got me, but depot and mortgage teamed up to whisper the answer. My favorite grouping? Probably the Greek myth minus a letter—it felt clever, like a little historical wink. Tomorrow’s another round, and I’ll be here, coffee in hand, ready to untangle whatever words are waiting. Happy solving, everyone!