Trying to find the connections in a game of Connections might get tricky, depending on how much the categories of a certain day differ from our vocabulary. If you need a nod in the right direction to figure out the answers, you have come to the right place.
The New York Times launched Connections in mid-2023, and the game has quickly gained popularity as a daily activity. Each day, the game presents sixteen different words in a 4×4 grid. Your goal is to find the eponymous connections between them. They are split into four categories, but you don’t know which categories these are when you start playing; you must look at all the words and try to deduce yourself.
To guess, simply select the four words you think are grouped together and click the Submit button. Doing so, you get feedback from the game on whether it was a correct guess or it cost you a “life.” You have a maximum of three mistakes to make each day, and making a fourth mistake means you lose.
With a correct guess, the selected words are removed from the “pool” and grouped together to reveal the name of their category. The four categories are color-coded in yellow, green, blue, and purple, where yellow is traditionally the most straightforward and purple is the trickiest.
Keep reading to find a few hints, the categories, and the answers for today’s Connections. Each of them is split in a different section, so as to not spoil the answers unintentionally.
Hints for today’s Connections (July 25)
A few hints for today’s categories of Connections (#410) are:
- ? Yellow group: before paper, there was…
- ? Green group: TV personality
- ? Blue group: ease of understanding or development
- ? Purple group: covered in layers
We don’t want to make it too simple or obvious at first for those who only need a nod in the right direction. But if those still don’t ring a bell, you might need the actual names of each category.
That is where the next section comes in. Keep reading to learn more.
Today’s Connections categories (July 25)
The categories that connect today’s words in Connections (#410) are:
- ? Yellow group: ancient writing surfaces
- ? Green group: lead, as a TV program
- ? Blue group: natural ability
- ? Purple group: wrapped things
Knowing the categories might give away most or all the answers, but we know that sometimes it can still be tricky to figure out which ones go where.
If you’re still unsure and don’t have any more room for mistakes, check out the actual answers for each category below.
Today’s Connections answers (July 25)
The answers to today’s Connections puzzle (#410) are:
- ? Ancient writing surfaces: CLAY, PAPYRUS, PARCHMENT, WAX
- ? Lead, as a TV program: ANCHOR, HOST, MODERATE, PRESENT
- ? Natural ability: FACULTY, FLAIR, INSTINCT
- ? Wrapped things: BURRITO, GIFT, MUMMY, SPRAIN
Past Connections answers
July 24 (#409)
- ? Joke around with: KID, RAZZ, RIB, TEASE
- ? Poultry cuts: BREAST, TENDER, THIGH, WING
- ? Baby animals: CALF, CUB, FAWN, KIT
- ? Push through a crowd: BARGE, JOSTLE, MUSCLE, SHOULDER
July 23 (#408)
- ? Imposter: CHARLATAN, FRAUD, QUACK, SHAM
- ? Utterance: NOISE, PEEP, SOUND, WORD
- ? One who likes showing off: HAM, HOT DOG, PEACOCK, SHOWBOAT
- ? Looney Tunes characters minus a letter: BUG, PORK, SPEED, TWEET
July 22 (#407)
- ? Realm of expertise: AREA, DOMAIN, FIELD, SPHERE
- ? Musical instruments: FIDDLE, HORN, RECORDER, TRIANGLE
- ? Used to redirect traffic: BARRIER, CONE, FLAG, FLARE
- ? Food ____: CHAIN, FIGHT, PROCESSOR, PYRAMID
July 21 (#406)
- ? Ways to support a candidate: CAMPAIGN, CANVASS, ORGANIZE, STUMP
- ? Constitution: COMPOSITION, FABRIC, MAKEUP, STRUCTURE
- ? Carpentry tools: CLAMP, FILE, LEVEL, SAW
- ? Math abbreviations: LOG, MAX, MOD, TAN
July 20 (#405)
- ? Effortless: FLUID, GRACEFUL, NATURAL, SMOOTH
- ? Exertion: EFFORT, LABOR, SWEAT, WORK
- ? Energy for an electronic device: BATTERY, CHARGE, JUICE, POWER
- ? What “Pop” might mean: BURST, DAD, MAINSTREAM, SODA
July 19 (#404)
- ? Romantic partner: FLAME, LOVER, STEADY, SWEETHEAR
- ? Insult: BURN, DIG, JAB, SLIGHT
- ? Gas pump options: DIESEL, PLUS, PREMIUM, REGULAR
- ? ___ table: COFFEE, PERIODIC, POOL, WATER
July 18 (#403)
- ? Open space: COURT, PLAZA, SQUARE, YARD
- ? Boxing unit: BOUT, CONTEST, MATCH, ROUND
- ? Glitziness: DAZZLE, FLASH, POMP, RITZ
- ? Emoji: FIRE, HEART, SKULL, SPARKLES
July 17 (#402)
- ? Buildings around town: BANK, LAUNDROMAT, POST OFFICE, SUPERMARKET
- ? Hinder: CHECK, CURB, HAMPER, INHIBIT
- ? Animal group names: PACK, PRIDE, SCHOOL, SWARM
- ? Starts of U.S. presidents: BIDE, CART, NIX, WASHING
July 16 (#401)
- ? In a bad mood: CROSS, SHORT, SURLY, TESTY
- ? Experimental: EXPLORATORY, PILOT, PRELIMINARY, TRIAL
- ? Starts of Broadway musicals: FIDDLER, JERSEY, KINKY, MERRILY
- ? Peter ___: PAN, PARKER, PIPER, RABBIT
July 15 (#400)
- ? Regard as true: ACCEPT, BELIEVE, BUY, TRUST
- ? Facade: BLUFF, FRONT, SHAM, SHOW
- ? Ways to secure a TV: BASE, BRACKET, MOUNT, STAND
- ? Liquor bottle sizes: FIFTH, HANDLE, LITER, PINT
July 14 (#399)
- ? Slender projections: POINT, PRONG, TINE, TIP
- ? Conditions for collectibles: FAIR, FINE, GOOD, MINT
- ? Profession: BUSINESS, FIELD, LINE, TRADE
- ? Words before “nut”: BRAZIL, BUTTER, DOUGH, PINE
July 13 (#398)
- ? Enormous: GIANT, MAMMOTH, MONSTER, TITANIC
- ? Embodiment: AVATAR, CHARACTER, FIGURE, PERSONA
- ? Come across as: APPEAR, LOOK, SEEM, SOUND
- ? Silent “T”: CASTLE, HUSTLE, LISTEN, WITCH
July 12 (#397)
- ? School facilities: AUDITORIUM, GYM, LAB, LIBRARY
- ? Roulette bets: BLACK, EVEN, ODD, RED
- ? Associated with “dove”: CHOCOLATE, PEACE, PIGEON, SOAP
- ? ___ goose: GOLDEN, GREY, MOTHER, SILLY
July 11 (#396)
- ? School supplies: PEN, RULER, SCISSORS, TAPE
- ? Fundamental: ESSENTIAL, KEY, PRINCIPAL, STAPLE
- ? Transfer: GIVE, HAND, PASS, SEND
- ? Light-up signs: APPLAUSE, EXIT, RECORDING, WALK
July 10 (#395)
- ? Future likelihood: CHANCE, FORECAST, OUTLOOK, PROSPECT
- ? Back talk: ATTITUDE, CHEEK, LIP, SASS
- ? Fish: BASS, FLUKE, PERCH, PIKE
- ? Components of eyeglasses: BRIDGE, LENS, RIM, TEMPLE
July 9 (#394)
- ? Chronicle: JOURNAL, LOG, RECORD, REGISTER
- ? Mess of hair: MANE, MOP, SHOCK, TANGLE
- ? TV show minus “s”: CHEER, FRIEND, SCRUB, WEED
- ? Words after “hedge”: FUND, HOG, MAZE, TRIMMER
July 8 (#393)
- ? Bit of advice: POINTER, SUGGESTION, TIP, TRICK
- ? Fortitude: GRIT, RESOLVE, SPIRIT, WILL
- ? Spend time at: FREQUENT, HAUNT, PATRONIZE, VISIT
- ? Words ending in numbers: CANINE, FREIGHT, OFTEN, OZONE
July 7 (#392)
- ? Change states of matter: CONDENSE, FREEZE, MELT, VAPORIZE
- ? Replacement: ALTERNATE, BACKUP, COVER, SUB
- ? Slangy names for professions: COPPER, HACK, SHRINK, SUIT
- ? Mariah Carey number one hits: FANTASY, HERO, HONEY, SOMEDAY
July 6 (#391)
- ? Biological building blocks: ATOM, CELL, MOLECULE, PROTEIN
- ? Purchases for a baby: BOTTLE, CRIB, MOBILE, RATTLE
- ? Objects played as instruments: JUG, SAW, SPOONS, WASHBOARD
- ? ___ tag: DOG, FREEZE, PHONE, PRICE
July 5 (#390)
- ? Yearn: DESIRE, LONG, PINE, YEN
- ? Magazines: FORTUNE, MAD, NATURE, O
- ? Characters in Bond movies: BOND, M, MONEYPENNY, Q
- ? Words that precede “pop” in music genres: BUBBLEGUM, EURO, K, POWER
July 4 (#389)
- ? Romantic rapport: ATTRACTION, CHEMISTRY, FIREWORKS, SPARKS
- ? Things stored by a web browser: CACHE, COOKIE, DATA, HISTORY
- ? Single rotation: CYCLE, LAP, REVOLUTION, TURN
- ? Words before “bell”: BAR, DINNER, LIBERTY, TINKER
July 3 (#388)
- ? Develop, as ideas: BRAINSTORM, IDEATE, SPITBALL, WORKSHOP
- ? Kinds of cake: BIRTHDAY, CRUMB, MARBLE, POUND
- ? Tangible: CONCRETE, MATERIAL, REAL, SOLID
- ? Things you can throw in metaphors: CURVEBALL, PARTY, TANTRUM, WRENCH
July 2 (#387)
- ? Pack (away) for future use: SQUIRREL, STASH, STORE, STOW
- ? Adjectives for assets: FIXED, FROZEN, LIQUID, TOXIC
- ? Latin words: CAVEAT, ERGO, QUID, VOX
- ? ___ game: ARCADE, BLAME, NUMBERS, SQUID
July 1 (#386)
- ? Show the way: DIRECT, GUIDE, LEAD, USHER
- ? Scheme: CON, HUSTLE, RACKET, STING
- ? Seen on a U.S. dollar bill: EAGLE, PYRAMID, SEAL, WASHINGTON
- ? First words of Canadian provinces/territories: BRITISH, NORTHWEST, NOVA, PRINCE
June 30 (#385)
- ? Old saying: ADAGE, CHESTNUT, MAXIM, SAW
- ? Grill fuel sources: CHARCOAL, ELECTRIC, GAS, WOOD
- ? Trees: ASH, CHERRY, EBONY, GUM
- ? Hot tub components: FILTER, HEATER, JET, PUMP
June 29 (#384)
- ? Homophones: TO, TOO, TUE, TWO
- ? Connect: COUPLE, TIE, UNTIE, WED
- ? Placed down: LAID, PLACED, PUT, SAT
- ? ___ flower: MAY, SUN, WALL, WILD
June 28 (#383)
- ? Types of bags: CLUTCH, MESSENGER, SATCHEL, TOTE
- ? Wiggle room: FREEDOM, LATITUDE, LICENSE, SLACK
- ? Indication to proceed: CUE, PROMPT, SIGNAL, WORD
- ? Underwear in the singular: BOXER, BRIEF, DRAWER, SHORT
June 27 (#382)
- ? Pursuit: CHASE, HUNT, QUEST, SEARCH
- ? Romantic letter sign-offs: ALWAYS, KISSES, LOVE, YOURS
- ? Group within a group: CAMP, PARTY, SIDE, WING
- ? Gold ___: BOND, LEAF, MINE, RUSH
June 26 (#381)
- ? Army ranks: CAPTAIN, GENERAL, MAJOR, PRIVATE
- ? Place to plug something in: JACK, OUTLET, PORT, SOCKET
- ? Consumer desire, collectively: APPETITE, AUDIENCE, DEMAND, MARKET
- ? ___ ad: ATTACK, PERSONAL, POP-UP, WANT
June 25 (#380)
- ? Divulge, as private information: DISH, SPILL, TALK, TELL
- ? Divide: BRANCH, FORK, PART, SPLIT
- ? Silent “K”: DOORKNOB, KNIFE, TOPKNOT, UNKNOWN
- ? Key to success, so to speak: FORMULA, RECIPE, SECRET, TICKET
June 24 (#379)
- ? Sore to the touch: DELICATE, RAW, SENSITIVE, TENDER
- ? Restaurant courses: DESSERT, MAIN, SIDE, STARTER
- ? Animal homophones: BARE, DEAR, MOUSSE, NEW
- ? Red ___: CARPET, DELICIOUS, MEAT, TAPE
June 23 (#378)
- ? “Settle down!”: EASY, ENOUGH, QUIET, RELAX
- ? Minor ailments: BUG, CHILL, COLD, COUGH
- ? What humpback whales do: BREACH, DIVE, SING, SPOUT
- ? ___ city: MAGIC, MOTOR, SIN, WINDY
June 22 (#377)
- ? One thing after another: CHAIN, SERIES, STRING, TRAIN
- ? Kinds of golf clubs: DRIVER, IRON, WEDGE, WOOD
- ? Horror movies, with “The”: BIRDS, FOG, OMEN, RING
- ? Words for sausage: BRAT, DOG, FRANK, LINK
June 21 (#376)
- ? Amusement park rides: FERRIS WHEEL, MERRY-GO-ROUND, ROLLER COASTER, TILT-A-WHIRL
- ? Approval: CLEARANCE, GO-AHEAD, GREEN LIGHT, THUMBS-UP
- ? Types of come-from-behind stories: CINDERELLA, DAVID-AND-GOLIATH, RAGS-TO-RICHES, UNDERDOG
- ? Beginning with synonyms for rear end: BUMPER-TO-BUMPER, BUTTERMILK, RUMPELSTILTSKIN, TAILGATE
June 20 (#375)
- ? Bits of hardware: NAIL, NUT, SCREW, WASHER
- ? Fishing gear: FLY, HOOK, LINE, SINKER
- ? Hair salon fixtures: CHAIR, DRYER, MIRROR, SINK
- ? Lightning ___: BOLT, BUG, ROD, STRIKE
June 19 (#374)
- ? Positions in favor: AYE, FOR, PRO, YEA
- ? Go out with: COURT, DATE, SEE, WOO
- ? Multitude: DROVE, HOST, PACK, SEA
- ? Things read in divination: AURA, PALM, TAROT, TEA
June 18 (#373)
- ? Remote control buttons: CHANNEL, MENU, POWER, VOLUME
- ? Hide from view: BLOCK, COVER, SCREEN, SHIELD
- ? Drink garnishes: CHERRY, OLIVE, SWORD, UMBRELLA
- ? First word in Bond titles: CASINO, DIAMONDS, QUANTUM, TOMORROW
June 17 (#372)
- ? Deliver, as a package: MAIL, POST, SEND, SHIP
- ? Kinds of lip makeup: BALM, GLOSS, LINER, STAIN
- ? Predicament: CORNER, FIX, HOLE, SPOT
- ? Measured in degrees: ANGLE, CRIME, EDUCATION, TEMPERATURE
June 16 (#371)
- ? Current situation: CONDITION, FORM, SHAPE, STATE
- ? Remote rural area: BUSH, COUNTRY, STICKS, WOODS
- ? Classic lawn ornaments: FLAMINGO, FOUNTAIN, GNOME, PINWHEEL
- ? ___ tale: FAIRY, FISH, FOLK, TALL
June 15 (#370)
- ? Basketball shots: DUNK, FLOATER, LAYUP, THREE
- ? Fish: PERCH, PIKE, SKATE, SOLE
- ? Qualities of thick hair: BODY, BOUNCE, LIFT, VOLUME
- ? ___ child: FLOWER, ONLY, POSTER, PROBLEM
June 14 (#369)
- ? Writing assignments: ARTICLE, ESSAY, PAPER, REPORT
- ? Things that are pink: BUBBLE GUM, CARNATION, ERASER, FLAMINGO
- ? Nato phonetic alphabet: FOXTROT, HOTEL, VICTOR, YANKEE
- ? Associated with #2: DEPUTY, DEREK JETER, PENCIL, SILVER MEDAL
June 13 (#368)
- ? Enjoy: APPRECIATE, DIG, FANCY, LIKE
- ? Blockbuster: HIT, SENSATION, SMASH, SUCCESS
- ? Campaign swag: BUTTON, HAT, SHIRT, STICKER
- ? Words after “copy”: CAT, EDITOR, PASTE, THAT
June 12 (#367)
- ? Places in New York City: CHINATOWN, DUMBO, MANHATTAN, WALL STREET
- ? Rhyming titles: BE KIND REWIND, E.T., FRIGHT NIGHT, KILL BILL
- ? Ending in units of measurement: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, MY LEFT FOOT, THE GREEN MILE, THE LONGEST YARD
- ? Starting with animals: BEETLEJUICE, DOGMA, FOXY BROWN, OCTOPUSSY
June 11 (#366)
- ? Homophones: BI, BUY, BY, BYE
- ? Muscles, informally: AB, PEC, QUAD, TRI
- ? Music genres: DUB, EMO, POP, TRAP
- ? Settings on an appliance knob: HI, LO, MED, OFF
June 10 (#365)
- ? Core: CRUX, ESSENCE, HEART, SUBSTANCE
- ? Complicated: BAROQUE, COMPLEX, ELABORATE, INVOLVED
- ? Symbols used in making lists: ARROW, BULLET, CHECKBOX, HYPHEN
- ? What “cross” might mean: ANGRY, BETRAY, CRUCIFIX, HYBRID
June 9 (#364)
- ? Feeling some type of way: BITTER, SALTY, SORE, UPSET
- ? Throw here and there: PEPPER, SCATTER, SPRINKLE, STREW
- ? Things with layers: CAKE, EARTH, ONION, PLYWOOD
- ? ___ potato: BAKED, COUCH, HOT, SWEET
June 8 (#363)
- ? Grab one’s attention: ABSORB, ENGROSS, HOLD, RIVET
- ? Document with video: FILM, RECORD, SHOOT, TAPE
- ? Anagrams: PASTEL, PETALS, PLEATS, STAPLE
- ? Pretty ___: GOOD, PENNY, PLEASE, WOMAN
June 7 (#362)
- ? Dream up: CONCEIVE, ENVISION, IMAGINE, PICTURE
- ? Thin covering: COAT, FILM, LAYER, SKIN
- ? Remove, as crumbs: BRUSH, FLICK, SWEEP, WIPE
- ? Verbs for a Software Engineer: CODE, DEVELOP, HACK, PROGRAM
June 6 (#361)
- ? Move to action: DRIVE, PROMPT, PROPEL, PUSH
- ? Uno cards: DRAW, REVERSE, SKIP, WILD
- ? Hail size comparisons: BASEBALL, GRAPEFRUIT, MARBLE, PEA
- ? Places with benches: COURTROOM, DUGOUT, GYM, PARK
June 5 (#360)
- ? “Awesome!”: COOL, NICE, SICK, SWEET
- ? Variety: KIND, SORT, STYLE, TYPE
- ? Gist: DRIFT, IDEA, MESSAGE, POINT
- ? Fried appetizer, informally: RING, STICK, TENDER, WING
June 4 (#359)
- ? Take home, as income: CLEAR, EARN, MAKE, NET
- ? Parts of a wizard costume: BEARD, HAT, ROBE, STAFF
- ? Found on a ship: BRIDGE, DECK, HATCH, KEEL
- ? C-___: CLEF, SECTION, SPAN, SUITE
June 3 (#358)
- ? Remove, as body hair: LASER, PLUCK, THREAD, WAX
- ? Twist around: COIL, SPOOL, WIND, WRAP
- ? Things made of cells: HONEYCOMB, ORGANISM, SOLAR PANEL, SPREADSHEET
- ? B-___: BALL, MOVIE, SCHOOL, VITAMIN
June 2 (#357)
- ? Conformists: FOLLOWERS, LEMMINGS, PUPPETS, SHEEP
- ? Company ownership offers: EQUITY, OPTIONS, SHARES, STOCKS
- ? US cities: BILLINGS, BUFFALO, MOBILE, PHOENIX
- ? What “digs” might mean: APARTMENT, INSULTS, LIKES, SHOVELS
June 1 (#356)
- ? “Don’t delay!”: HURRY, NOW, PRONTO, STAT
- ? Ocean phenomena: CURRENT, DRIFT, TIDE, WAVE
- ? Dumbbell exercises: CURL, FLY, PRESS, ROW
- ? Philosopher homophones: LOCK, MARKS, PANE, RUSTLE
