Introduction
Connections is a new word puzzle game that was recently introduced by The New York Times that has players looking for connections between words and grouping them accordingly. This daily puzzle is garnering a lot of popularity in a short amount of time among word nerds and casual puzzlers. But as great, annoying, and fun playing can be, identifying the precise word associations can be a challenge for some players. If you’re seeking solid Connections hints to step up your game and chase down those puzzle solutions faster, you are at the right place.
You’ll find strategies, tips, and a step-by-step guide to nailing The New York Times Connections game in this article. These tips will take the word association skills you’re familiar with and give you even more word association skills!
How to Win The the new york times connections
Before getting into hints and strategies, it’s important to understand how the game functions. In The New York Times Connections, you are shown a grid of 16 words. Your task is to find four sets of four words that have a common theme, category, or connection.
Each puzzle has four difficulty levels:
- Yellow: Hands down the easiest, most predictable category.
- Green: A little harder but still relatively easy.
- Blue: Contains more analytical and lateral based reasoning.
- Purple: The hardest, sometimes requiring wordplay or esoteric knowledge.
When you identify four connected words in the right configuration, they merge and are removed from the grid. You can win the game when you have correctly identified all four groups.
Critical Clues and Techniques to Solve Connections Puzzles
Early on, Scan for Obvious Groupings
Begin with the most obvious sectors, generally seen in the yellow group. These are typically familiar sets, like:
- These have been out; you work on mixing colors (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow)
- All Days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
- Dog Breed Names (Beagle, Bull, Husky, etc.)
Identifying and eliminating this group will facilitate the identification of the remaining, more complex groups.
Group Similar Ideas into Common Themes or Categories
Identify the larger themes once you eliminate the low-hanging fruit. Some examples include:
- Synonyms: Words that have similar meanings (e.g. Happy, Cheerful, Joyful, Merry)
- Homophones – Words that sound the same but have different meanings (Flour, Flower, Meet, Meat)
- Wordplay & Idioms: Phrases or sayings that use the words in the grid (e.g., Cold Shoulder, Hot Take, Warm Welcome, Cool Down)
Think About What Words Mean
The New York Times Connections puzzle has a lot of words with double meanings, and the game takes advantage of that ambiguity. For example:
- Bow is a ribbon typically used for decoration or the act of bending forward.
- Bass is a fish and is a heavy musical sound.
If a word could lend itself to more than one category, remember both interpretations as you are sorting into groups.
Look for Hidden Patterns in the new york times connections
There are some connections that you cannot see right away and need lateral thinking for you to understand. These could include:
- Words That Have Silent Letters (Knight, Gnome, Wrist, Hour)
- (树、蜜蜂、海、钥匙)
- YOU CAN FIND IN A KITCHEN (Spoon, Plate, Oven, Knife)
Moving the words into their phonetics, seeing where their common usage can lead us can help lay bare these hidden patterns.
Use the Elimination Method
If you hit a dead end, try taking out words that absolutely do NOT belong in the same category. Read groups of words that sound like they belong together and see if you. If not, exchange one word for another at a time until you find the right set.
Be On The Lookout For Traps & Red Herrings
The game usually has words that seem to belong in a category but actually belong elsewhere. For example:
- Perry, Plummy, Blooey, Nutty (Perry, Plummy, and Blooey are fruits, but Nutty is not a fruit—it’s a seed.)
- King, Queen, Prince, Joker (The Joker may be royal, but it’s more about the playing cards.)
If there is any doubt, check right away if there is a direct relation for all four words.
Take a Break and Revisit
Occasionally, leaving the puzzle alone and coming back to it with fresh eyes can help you see links you didn’t previously notice.
Use External Resources Wisely
- If you are having trouble, you can tap online tools or references such as:
- Thesaurus for synonyms.
- Phonetic associations: Rhyme dictionaries
- In other words, general knowledge databanks, from pop culture to the geography and history categories.
- Intermediate to Advanced Tips and Tricks
- If you know the basics — and want to take your skills further, consider these advanced strategies:
the new york times connections Identify Patterns Over Time
For regular players, The New York Times Connections occasionally seems to repeat a few familiar themes. By keeping a mental or written note of past categories, you’ll get a jump on new puzzles!
Starting With the Most Difficult Category
If the last four words are stymying you, think of potential purple group themes and pair the other words with them. As these are the most difficult to solve, completing them will in turn confirm the last remaining group.
the new york times connections Try Out Different Combinations
If three words strongly fit a category but you cannot find the fourth, try rotating in alternative words. Occasionally a solitary out-of-left-field word makes a set that you didn’t know initially.
Try Playing With Friends for a New Experience
Sometimes a second person will catch a connection you missed. Having discussions with others about the puzzle can improve your process as well.
Record Your Errors and Study from Them
If you always have difficulty with a certain type of category (for instance, pop culture references or scientific terms), pay attention and commit to memory commonly grouped elements.
Conclusion
New York Times Connections is a great game that makes you more learned in vocabulary, lateral thinking, and problem-solving. With these clues, methods, and pattern recognition strategies, you can significantly enhance your capacity to effectively tackle puzzles. Whether you want to complete them faster, need to enjoy the game more or both, this list of connections tips will help you become one.
Now that you have these strategies in your back pocket, go out there and conquer today’s Connections puzzle!