Looking for a clue to today's Connections answer for puzzle #563 on December 25, a little easier than yesterday's puzzle, the Connections companion rated this puzzle 2.5 out of 5 for difficulty.

We update our Connections hints and tips daily. And if the hints aren't enough, see the four answers below, along with the category name and related words.

In addition, for those of you reading this in a different time zone, I have included a reflection on yesterday's puzzle 562.

There are spoilers for connection #563. Only those who want to know the answer to today's connection should read on.

Alternatively, see our NYT Connections How to Play Guide for tips on how to solve the puzzle without our help.

While today's wordle solution guide recommends the best wordle starting words as a strategy, the Connections solution depends on identifying the categories that are connected from the 16 words. The difficulty of each category is represented by a color, with yellow being the easiest grouping and purple the most difficult. Hints are helpful as the answer is displayed after four wrong guesses.

Today's connecting words are: queen, star, cupid, strong, rudolf, sadogatarius, nanny, comet, vixen, moon, robinhood, shannon, hawkeye, fey, jenny, planet

For hints on solving the groupings If you need them, here are each of the themes in order of difficulty:

These hints should at least help you find the answers to today's connections. If not, please continue reading for larger hints. Also, if you only want to know the answer, scroll down further.

There is a bigger clue: In space, things fly straight as an arrow. In the animal kingdom, things are not as funny as a sketch comedy show.

Now, what's the answer to today's game #563 Connection?

Drum roll please.

Today's clue was a fun decoy that made me think it was Santa's reindeer. I soon realized it was actually a celestial object for the first category and was on my way.

I soon realized the connection to the character with the bow and arrow and rocked the green category.

Then it got a little harder, but luckily I was able to combine the female ones, and after some trial and error I had one mistake left and a female animal. From there I had four left, but to be honest I would not have gotten the last one had I not gotten all the others first.

Are you reading this late in the day? According to Connections Companion, the difficulty level was 3.5 out of 5.

Yesterday's clue began with an absurdly simple reference to The Wizard of Oz. Most people will figure this out quickly before moving on to other categories.

After some shuffling, I realized that close, tight, and intimate all mean close to others. Deer was the only one that had anything to do with physical intimacy.

I then failed several times to connect, well, anything, and finally ended our winning streak with a failed puzzle.