The New York Times daily puzzle, Connections, challenges players to group sixteen words into four categories based on shared themes. Today’s puzzle (#913) proved tricky for many, especially the purple category. Here’s a breakdown of the hints and answers, along with tips to improve your solving strategy.
Daily Puzzle Breakdown
The game’s rising popularity has prompted the Times to introduce a performance tracker, similar to Wordle’s bot. Registered players can now monitor their progress, including completion rate, perfect scores, and win streaks. This adds a competitive edge for those who enjoy data-driven gameplay.
Hints by Difficulty
The puzzle is structured with four categories: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (most challenging). Here are hints to guide you:
- Yellow: Exclamations of surprise.
- Green: Replicating something.
- Blue: Sugary treats.
- Purple: A letter’s multiple meanings.
Full Answers Revealed
Here are the solutions to today’s NYT Connections puzzle:
- Yellow Group: The theme is interjections: dear, gracious, heavens, and mercy.
- Green Group: The theme is imitation: copy, dummy, dupe, and fake.
- Blue Group: The theme is confection: candy, lolly, sucker, and sweet.
- Purple Group: The theme is what the letter “Y” can mean: why, year, yellow, and yes.
Strategic Tips for Solving
To improve your Connections game, consider these techniques:
- Vocalize the words: Saying them aloud can reveal connections hidden in phrasing. The puzzle creators often use words in similar expressions.
- Avoid obvious groupings: The editors deliberately include misleading options. A recent puzzle featured SPONGE, BOB, SQUARE, and PANTS – none of which fit a single category. Shuffle the board if you’re stuck.
- Deconstruct compound words: Look for shared prefixes, suffixes, or root meanings. Past puzzles have used obscure connections, such as words beginning with rock band names (“Rushmore”).
The NYT Connections puzzle continues to test vocabulary, pattern recognition, and lateral thinking. These strategies should help you crack even the most difficult categories.
