The New York Times Games presents Connections, a daily word puzzle, even on Christmas Eve! Need a little help conquering this relaxing brainteaser? This guide offers hints, category clues, and solutions—everything you need to win. Assume you already understand the basic gameplay.

Words in NYT Connections Puzzle #562 (December 24, 2024): Lions, Tigers, Bears, Oh My, Dear, Jays, Bills, Use, Bye, Bees, Please, Close, Tight, Gimme, Ease, Intimate.

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Hints and Clues for the NYT Connections Puzzle

Below are hints and partial solutions to avoid complete spoilers. The full solution is at the end.

General Hints:

Consider a famous *Wizard of Oz* phrase. More to come...

Yellow Category Solution:

Think of a song title – specifically, one-third of a title. More to come...

Purple Category Solution:

For the complete solution to the New York Times Games *Connections* puzzle, see below. The complete groupings of words are revealed there.

Play the New York Times Games *Connections* puzzle on their website, accessible from most devices with a web browser.

(Full Solution Hidden for those who want to solve it themselves. To reveal, please ask.)