Honestly, some days the New York Times just wants to see us struggle. You wake up, grab your coffee, open the app, and suddenly you’re staring at sixteen words that seem to have absolutely nothing in common—or way too much in common. That’s the beauty (and the absolute frustration) of this game. Today is no different. If you’re looking for nyt connections hints april 23, you’ve probably already realized that "Gag" and "Muzzle" are sitting there staring at each other, and you're wondering if this is a trick.
It usually is.
The April 23 puzzle, which is officially #682 in the archives, is a classic example of the "misdirection play." It’s got a mix of nature, animals, and some very specific performance lingo that can easily trip you up if you aren't careful. Let's break down how to survive this one without burning through all your mistakes before 9:00 AM.
The Vibe of Today's Board
Sometimes the board feels cohesive. Today? Not so much. You’ve got words like "Tad" sitting next to "Trunk" and "Sketch." It feels random. But the secret to winning at Connections isn't just knowing the definitions; it's about spotting the "double agents." These are the words that belong to two potential categories.
For instance, look at "Trunk." It could be part of a car, an elephant, or a tree. Then you see "Branch." Okay, now we’re leaning toward nature. But wait, "Muzzle" and "Tail" are there too. Is it an elephant? No, "Muzzle" doesn't fit a tree. This is where the mental gymnastics start.
NYT Connections Hints April 23: Category Clues
If you don't want the full answers yet and just need a nudge, here is how the difficulty levels break down for today.
Yellow (The "Duh" Category)
Think about what you would see if you were standing in a forest or looking at a massive Redwood. These are the structural components of a very tall, woody plant. If you can't get this one, you might need more coffee.
Green (The "Furry Friend" Category)
If you’re a dog person or a cat person, this should jump out at you. It's all about the physical anatomy of our quadrupedal companions. One of these words is also a verb that means to silence someone, which is a classic NYT red herring.
Blue (The "Saturday Night" Category)
This one is for the theater nerds or anyone who spends too much time watching stand-up specials. These words all describe a specific segment or part of a comedy performance.
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Purple (The "Word Play" Category)
The dreaded purple. Today, it’s a "fill-in-the-blank" or a "compound word" situation. Every word in this group precedes a specific four-letter word. Think of things that stand tall, or maybe a very specific type of amphibian.
Breaking Down the Red Herrings
The reason nyt connections hints april 23 is trending is that Wyna Liu (the puzzle editor) loves to mess with our heads.
The biggest trap today is the "Mouth" trap. You see GAG and MUZZLE. Naturally, your brain goes: "Things that cover a mouth!" You search for two more. You see BIT. (A horse bit? Maybe?) But then you're stuck. There isn't a fourth word that fits perfectly.
This is where you have to pivot. GAG and BIT actually belong in the comedy category. MUZZLE is just a part of a dog's face. Once you separate those, the rest of the board starts to clear up like a foggy windshield.
The Official Solutions for April 23
If you're down to your last mistake and just want to keep your streak alive, here are the actual groupings.
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Yellow: Parts of a Tree
- BRANCH
- LEAF
- ROOT
- TRUNK
Green: Canine/Feline Features
- FUR
- MUZZLE
- PAW
- TAIL
Blue: Comedic Routine
- ACT
- BIT
- GAG
- SKETCH
Purple: ____ Pole
- BEAN (Beanpole)
- FLAG (Flagpole)
- MAY (Maypole)
- TAD (Tadpole)
Why the Purple Category is Actually Genius
Let’s talk about "Tad." When you see "Tad" on a board, most people think of "a little bit" (as in "a tad bit"). That’s the trap! By putting "Bit" and "Tad" on the same board, the editor is practically begging you to pair them up.
But "Tad" only makes sense when you put it in front of "Pole." A tadpole! It’s such a specific, localized word that it almost has to be part of the purple category. The same goes for "May." Unless there’s a "Months" category, "May" is almost always part of a compound word in this game.
How to Get Better at Connections
If you struggled with the nyt connections hints april 23 puzzle, don't feel bad. This game is designed to be harder than Wordle because it requires lateral thinking, not just vocabulary.
- Don't click immediately. Spend at least 60 seconds just looking.
- Find the "Linkers." If you see two words that must go together (like Flag and May for "pole"), look for the outliers that might fit.
- Shuffle is your best friend. Seriously. Our brains get stuck in "grid-lock" where we only see words that are physically next to each other. Hit that shuffle button and see if a new pattern pops out.
- Say them out loud. Sometimes hearing the word "Bean" helps you realize "Beanpole" is a thing, whereas just reading it makes you think of vegetables.
What to Do Next
Now that you’ve conquered (or survived) today’s puzzle, you can prep for tomorrow by looking for common NYT themes. They love "Words that follow X," "Synonyms for being drunk," and "Types of underwear." No, seriously.
If you're still in the mood for word games, the NYT Spelling Bee is particularly brutal today, or you could try the Mini Crossword to cool down your brain.
Check back tomorrow morning if the grid has you stumped again. We’ll be here to untangle the mess so you can keep that precious streak going.
Actionable Insight: To solve tomorrow's puzzle faster, try to identify the "Purple" word first—look for the weirdest, shortest word on the board (like "Tad" or "May") and ask yourself what common word could be added to it to make a new phrase. This "backwards" approach often reveals the hardest category before you waste your guesses on the easy ones.