Connections returns with yet another challenging puzzle that puts your categorization skills to the test. Although the premise may seem straightforward—placing words into groups—players often find the real challenge lies within the nuances of the game.
If you’ve hit a wall with today’s puzzle, fear not! This article is packed with answers, helpful hints, and spoilers to assist you. Whatever type of support you need to conquer today’s challenge can be found within these sections.
Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle #564 – December 26, 2024

This edition of the Connections puzzle features the following words: Tidy, Ala, Handsome, Elder, Spruce, Like, Pine, Miss, Healthy, Roughly, Ark, Palm, About, Respectable, Ore, and Around.
Understanding the Term “Ala”
The term “ala”refers to a wing or a wing-like structure. It can also denote one of the two lateral petals of a flower found in the legume family, such as the pea. Additionally, ALA is a common acronym representing various entities, including the state of Alabama and the American Library Association.
Helpful Hints for the NYT Connections Puzzle
In need of clues or category hints to tackle this perplexing puzzle? The following sections are at your disposal to provide insight.
General Tips for Successfully Navigating the Connections Puzzle

Here are some strategic hints to aid your gameplay:
- The categories do not relate to love or affection.
- The words Miss and Ala belong together.
- Healthy and Respectable form another cohesive group.
Hints for the Yellow Category

For those tackling the straightforward yellow category, consider this clue: A ballpark figure.
Yellow Category Answer

The theme for this group is Approximately.
Yellow Category: All Four Words

The words in the yellow group are: About, Around, Like, Roughly.
Hints for the Green Category

This group relates to the concept of Types of big plants.
Green Category Answer

The category encompasses Trees.
Green Category: All Four Words

The words classified under this category are: Elder, Palm, Pine, Spruce.
Hints for the Blue Category

This group revolves around the idea of A large group, a large pile of something.
Blue Category Answer

This category is identified as Sizable, As An Amount.
Blue Category: All Four Words

The four words corresponding to this category include: Handsome, Healthy, Respectable, Tidy.
Hints for the Purple Category

This category is centered around US States.
Purple Category Answer

The answer to this complex grouping is US State Abbreviations, Per AP Style Guide.
Purple Category: All Four Words

The words that fit into this category are: Ala, Ark, Miss, Ore.
Complete Answers for NYT Connections #564 – December 26, 2024
Seeking the full resolution for this engaging browser puzzle? Look no further than the section below, where you’ll discover a breakdown of all categories along with their respective words.

- Yellow – Approximately: About, Around, Like, Roughly
- Green – Trees: Elder, Palm, Pine, Spruce
- Blue – Sizable, As An Amount: Handsome, Healthy, Respectable, Tidy
- Purple – US State Abbreviations, Per AP Style Guide: Ala, Ark, Miss, Ore
Ready to give it a shot?