Connections is hard. Really hard. One minute you're breezing through a category about pizza toppings, and the next, Wyna Liu—the New York Times puzzle editor—has you staring at four words that seemingly have nothing in common besides the fact that they all contain the letter 'E'. If you’re hunting for connections hints today tom’s guide fans swear by, you’re likely at that desperate "two mistakes left" stage. We’ve all been there.
The game has become a morning ritual for millions. It’s a psychological gauntlet. You wake up, grab your coffee, and suddenly you’re trying to figure out if "Draft" belongs with "Wind" or "Beer." Most people approach the grid by looking for the obvious. That is exactly what the puzzle wants you to do. It’s built on the "red herring" principle.
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Why Connections Hints Today Tom’s Guide Readers Always Look for Red Herrings
The secret to winning isn't just knowing definitions. It’s about spotting the trap. When you see four words that look like they describe "Types of Shoes," pause. Is there a fifth word that also fits? If there is, that category is a decoy. Wyna Liu specifically designs these grids to bait you into clicking the most obvious association first.
Tom’s Guide has become a go-to for players because they don't just dump the answers; they provide a "nudge." Sometimes you don't want the solution spoiled. You just want to know if the Yellow category is actually about "Synonyms for Fast" or if it’s something weirder. Honestly, the most satisfying part of the game is that "Aha!" moment when the connection clicks. If you just scroll to the bottom of a cheat sheet, you lose that hit of dopamine.
Take a look at the grid layout. You’ve got sixteen words. Four groups. Four colors.
- Yellow is the straightforward one.
- Green is usually a bit more "wordy."
- Blue starts getting into specific trivia or niches.
- Purple is the legendary nightmare category.
The Purple group often involves wordplay, like "Words that follow [Blank]" or "Homophones." If you see words that don't seem to have any logical connection—like 'EYE', 'SEA', 'KNOT', and 'BEE'—stop looking for what they are and start looking for what they sound like.
Strategies for Solving the Grid Without Spoilers
Don't click yet. Seriously. The biggest mistake is "panic-clicking" when you're down to your last life.
If you’re stuck, try the "shuffle" button. It’s there for a reason. Our brains get locked into spatial patterns. If 'BALL' and 'BAT' are next to each other, you’re going to keep thinking about sports. Shuffling breaks those visual ties and might help you see that 'BAT' actually belongs with 'VAMPIRE' and 'CLOAK'.
Another pro tip? Look for the outliers. Find the weirdest word on the board. If there’s a word like 'QUARTZ', it’s probably not part of a generic category. It’s either part of a very specific scientific group or it's a "Words with X letters" type of Purple trap.
The Evolution of the NYT Puzzle Habit
Since the Times bought Wordle back in 2022, they’ve been building a digital "Games" empire. Connections is the crown jewel of that expansion. It’s different because it feels more personal than Wordle. Wordle is math and linguistics. Connections is about how your specific brain categorizes the world. This is why the connections hints today tom’s guide style of reporting is so popular—it treats the game like a daily news event.
I remember a puzzle from a few months back where the category was "Palindromes." It felt like a slap in the face. I spent ten minutes trying to link 'KAYAK' and 'LEVEL' through some sort of water-sports logic. I felt like a genius when I finally saw it, but also slightly manipulated. That’s the beauty of it.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- The Over-Think: Sometimes the Yellow category really is just "Parts of a Car." Don't spend twenty minutes looking for a hidden meaning in 'WHEEL'.
- The "One Away" Trap: If the game tells you you're "One Away," don't just swap one random word. Look at the whole set. One of those words is a plant from another category.
- The Verb/Noun Swap: A word like 'PRESENT' can be a gift (noun) or to show something (verb). If you're stuck, try changing the part of speech in your head.
The Logic Behind the Purple Category
Purple is where the editors truly flex. Often, these categories involve "Fill in the Blank."
Examples we've seen in the past include:
- ___ Cake (Cup, Carrot, Wedding, Piece of)
- Units of Measure that are also verbs (Inch, Fathom, Foot, Mile—wait, not Mile)
- Double letters (Apple, Balloon, Coffee, Committee)
If you can identify the Purple category early, the rest of the board collapses into place. It’s like a domino effect. Usually, I try to find the two easiest groups first (Yellow and Green) to clear the board. Once you’re down to eight words, the connections become much more visible.
Final Thoughts for Today's Puzzle
Before you head back to the NYT app to use your last two guesses, do one last scan. Is there a theme you're missing? Think about pop culture, brands, and common idioms.
If you're still struggling, here is the best way to move forward:
Focus on the words that have multiple meanings. 'LEAF' could be part of a tree, or it could be part of a table. 'RING' could be jewelry, or it could be a sound. Identify those "pivot words" and see which other groups they might fit into.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Always identify the "Fifth Wheel": If five words fit a category, find the one that belongs elsewhere before you commit.
- Say the words out loud: Sometimes hearing the word helps you catch a homophone or a pun that your eyes missed.
- Use a scratchpad: If you’re really serious about your streak, write the words down and draw lines between them. It sounds overkill, but it works.
- Check the "Hint" sites only as a last resort: Use a site that gives you the category names before the actual answers to keep the challenge alive.