Crossword Solution: NYT 563

This is a Christmas Day Connections puzzle from the New York Times. If you're stuck, this article provides hints, category help, and spoilers.

The puzzle words are: Queen, Star, Cupid, Strong, Rudolph, Sagittarius, Nanny, Comet, Vixen, Moon, Robin Hood, Shannon, Hawkeye, Fey, Jenny, and Planet.

Understanding "Jenny"

The word "Jenny" has multiple meanings: a spinning machine, a female name, a female animal of certain species, and a nautical term for a jib sail.

Hints and Solutions

General Hints:

1. No category is solely about reindeer names.
2. No category is solely about female first names.
3. "Shannon" and "Strong" belong together.

Yellow Category (Easy): Celestial Objects

Hint: Think black holes and satellites.

Answer: Comet, Moon, Planet, Star

Green Category (Medium): Archers

Hint: Consider Katniss, Artemis, and Legolas.

Answer: Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius

Blue Category (Hard): Female Animals

Hint: Think doe, hen, molly.

Answer: Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen

Purple Category (Tricky): SNL Cast Members

Hint: Think comedians.

Answer: Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong

Complete Solution

• Yellow: Celestial Objects (Comet, Moon, Planet, Star)
• Green: Archers (Cupid, Hawkeye, Robin Hood, Sagittarius)
• Blue: Female Animals (Jenny, Nanny, Queen, Vixen)
• Purple: SNL Cast Members (Fey, Rudolph, Shannon, Strong)

Play the puzzle on the New York Times Games website!