NYT Connections Hint - December 18, 2025

Hey there, puzzle pal! 😄 Today's Connections puzzle had me doing a double-take at some familiar friends and crafty strangers. One minute I'm talking about wishful thinking, the next I'm knee-deep in glitter. This December puzzle has all the cozy vibes of making holiday crafts with friends and the cheeky humor of seeing words in fresh, unexpected contexts. It reminded me of those late fall nights when our neighborhood Craft Club had glitter everywhere—by the time we left, we'd swear the cat was covered in sparkle. Spoiler alert: we made homemade pompoms and used pipe clean way more than we should have! With a sprinkle of winter whimsy, let's jump in. ✨

Word Explanations

• HERO

  • Ah, HERO—the ultimate spotlight stealer. Whether they're saving the day from a dramatic cliff or proving the power of friendship equals the power of actual lasers, HEROs have a knack for being unforgettable. In storytelling, every hero has an arc, a journey, a signature move (and sometimes a really bad haircut the second act). Outside of fiction, being someone's HERO could mean bringing coffee during a rough morning or making a bold rescue in a board game. They don't always wear capes, but they do have the power to make you feel, well, heroic! 🌟

• BUTTERFLY

  • BUTTERFLY—the social butterfly flutters from group to group, landing on new blooms of conversations like it's their job (because sometimes it kind of is!). They love making you feel welcome, saying 'hi! Remember me?' from across the room. In psychology, the social butterfly is anyone with extraverted gusto who somehow knows everyone in town. The butterfly also shows up in social media as a cute nickname for those who spread the vibes. Keep them close—they add the sweetness to any space. 🌈

• FELT

  • FELT is that cozy, fuzzy fabric that you can cut and shape into anything—like snowflakes, leaf garlands, my 'advanced' cat cosplay for the Halloween party (the cat still has it out for me; I regret nothing). In craft stores, felt is basically the OG of crafting: versatile, affordable, and a bit of a multitasking superstar. It also gets technical in industrial settings—maybe in soundproofing or insulation? But honestly, whenever I hear FELT, I'm mostly thinking of cozy holiday projects. 😌

• FANCY

  • FANCY can be both a verb—'I’ll FANCY this dessert up!'—and an adjective—'FANCY handwriting, good sir.' As a vibe, FANCY means you're stepping beyond the everyday: fancy candles, fancy tea, fancy socks. It implies a dash of elegance, a pinch of overachieving, and, occasionally, a fancy enough outfit to justify taking eight photos for socials. A FANCY is what happens when you don’t settle—think 'Ooh, let’s go beyond plain, I want this treat to have a purple swirl!'. 🎎

• GLITTER

  • GLITTER! The love-it-or-hate-it sparkling mess that somehow finds a way onto every craft surface, and more frustratingly, into your hair. But GLITTER is undeniably the star of holiday crafting—think snow angels, New Year’s sequins, or when you need a little bling to make a gift bag shimmer. It's the confetti of crafting! Fun fact: it’s been a beloved decoration for centuries because bright and shimmery = happy. Also known as the craft supply that starts a party. ✨

• FANTASY

  • FANTASY is where bedtime stories morph into epic adventures—especially if you grew up watching dragons save villages or reading about cozy knights. For many of us, it’s that fantasy of living in a world where solving puzzles unlocks real-world rewards—like a donut for the right answer! FANTASY can be a literary genre, an escape from the mundane, the feeling you get in a well-designed store or Pinterest board. It’s basically the mental cousin of 'what if?'. 🏰

• STAR

  • STAR has two lives—celestial and celebratory. As a celestial STAR, it’s that bright spot in the night sky that whispers, 'Make a wish!' As a celebrated STAR, it’s a person who owns the spotlight like it’s their birthright (and their resume). Stars are also how we rank content—five-star reviews, movie star status, or star stickers for good behavior. Whether twinkling above or adorning a screen, the STAR is basically the highest form of attention you can have! 🌟

• MEDIA

  • MEDIA is the buzzing, confusing, sometimes cozy world of platforms, people, and everything in between. Remember back when 'media' meant newspapers, TV, and maybe radio? Now it's your feed, your TikTok circle, everyone’s influencer cat, and even this blog (oh hi!). MEDIA can also be plural—like if you want to impress your coworkers, just say 'The MEDIA coverage has been great as usual!' Fun note: the term technically means 'plural of medium', hinting at a long history of figuring out how to get out messages across. 📱

• DAYDREAM

  • DAYDREAM is when your brain takes a mini-vacation to a world where winter is just Christmas lights and hot cocoa, or where you're living as a chef who actually has a clean kitchen. DAYDREAM is the mental space where your worries get an Instagram filter, and your to-do list hides under the couch. It's also a creative playdate—think 'what if I said yes to the invite and tried the new hobby?'. DAYDREAMs are one of life’s little sanity breaks; don't feel guilty for taking them! ☀️

• WORKER

  • WORKER is that go-getter who keeps showing up, whether they're working an office gig or literally carrying the whole potluck's dessert haul. In the world of animal groups, workers often do the heavy lifting—e.g., honeybee workers buzzing away to support the hive (talk about a team player!). In human terms, a WORKER could be our friend who volunteered to wrap all the gifts. Or it could be the emoji that means 'this is my vibe now: I’ve got this'. 💼

• PRINCIPAL

  • PRINCIPAL has two major lives: the school boss who knows everyone by name and carries a legendary coffee mug, and in storytelling, the main character, the focal point of our attention. As a school PRINCIPAL, they're the calming presence who knows how to handle crises. As a story PRINCIPAL, they're your top-of-billing hero who everyone wants to watch win. A fun fact: the word implies being 'first', like 'first among equals'. Either way, they're usually the ones making the big decisions! 💼

• POMPOM

  • POMPOM! Adorable bursts of yarn and fluffy goodness that make hats festive, scarves have personality, and keys look like an adorable alien spaceship. In craft clubs I've seen them used to top pom-pom garlands and for 'ugly sweater' designs with just a little too much extra. POMPOMs can also be seen on sports team uniforms—cheerleading squads definitely have their signature cheer sounds. And then there’s a big twist: in science, a 'pompom' is a kind of molecule structure! Life finds ways to be adorable. 🌈

• SECURITY

  • SECURITY is that feeling of safety you get when you’ve locked the door, paid a bill on time, or found a friend whose hug can fix the day. At airports, it’s the people (or machines) that double-check everything’s in order. In the world of tech, it's antivirus software, strong passwords, and that nifty feeling when you remember to set up two-factor authentication. And if you’re ‘on security’—someone got your back when you’re running late to a group meetup! 🛡️

• LEAD

  • LEAD has three lives and a good handful of other definitions! As a main character, LEAD is the front-and-center figure—think 'The LEAD was captivating!' As a metal, LEAD is the heavy element used back in the day in paints (yikes!). And as a verb, LEAD refers to guiding or going first—'I’ll LEAD the way!' It’s also a friendly term in pencil-filled dreams for 'the tip that writes', though that’s more of a colloquial phrase than a formal meaning. 🌟

• PIPE CLEANER

  • PIPE CLEANER—the craft superhero with flexible limbs (literally). You can bend them into any shape, making sculptures, flowers, or that weird 'modern art' piece your kid's going to be proud of. They're also handy for cleaning out gadgets, like headphones with pesky wax, or the pipe under your sink that you swear was just fixed. PIPE CLEANER makes project building feel like play time—because it basically IS. Fun tidbit: these craft supplies have their origins in cleaning pipes, not being cute craft friends! 🛠️

• ILLUSION

  • ILLUSION is that magician’s favorite word and a mind trickster that makes you believe in wizards, even when you're watching TV from your couch. Basically, ILLUSION is a clever sleight of hand or perception that isn’t quite what it seems—like, trust me, that glitter is definitely still on your desk even if you can't see it. ILLUSION can also refer to a concept you hold in your head that isn't quite real—like thinking you can eat just one cookie (spoiler: you can't). In art, illusions are the fun kind. 🪄

Theme Hints

1. BIT OF WISHFUL THINKING

   • Picture this: you're staring at the ceiling, and your mind drifts like a cloud on a lazy day. These words all describe moments where reality takes a delightful backseat. 🌟

2. PROTAGONIST

   • Think of your favorite film, book, or even the group chat where everyone's hanging out; this category is all about the person taking the spotlight. 🎬

3. COMPONENT OF AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECT

   • Imagine you're knee-deep in pipe cleaner flowers and glue gun disasters—these are the essential building blocks of craft success (or glorious chaos). 🎨

4. SOCIAL ___

   • Imagine you've booked a party and need to complete the subtitle. Sometimes the silliest suffixes fit the best! 🐝

Answers Explanation

Well, there you have it—four categories that took me on a wild ride through protagonists, whimsical thinking, crafting supplies, and the mysterious world of social butterf... wait, that doesn't sound right. 😂 But seriously, I loved how today's mix pushed me to think about words in multiple contexts. Social MEDIA, security, and a butterfly? Who knew! Thanks for joining me on this puzzle journey. Remember, it's all about the joy of discovering connections—and maybe a little bit of wishful thinking for the next batch. See you tomorrow, and happy solving! 🎉