Waking up and opening the New York Times Games app feels like a gamble some mornings. You either see the board and immediately "get it," or you stare at sixteen words that seem to have absolutely nothing in common. Today is one of those days where the overlap is brutal. If you are hunting for April 18 NYT Connections hints because you’re down to your last two mistakes, I get it. The frustration is real.
Connections is basically a psychological experiment disguised as a word game. Wyna Liu, the associate puzzle editor at the NYT, is notorious for using "red herrings." These are words that look like they belong in one category but are actually the "purple" or "blue" outliers. On April 18, the trap is laid out pretty clearly with some terminology that might make you think of one thing, while the actual solution is hiding in plain sight.
The logic behind the April 18 board
Usually, we look for the easiest group first. That’s the Yellow category. It’s the straightforward one. But sometimes, the "easy" group uses words that have double meanings, which messes with your head.
To beat the April 18 grid, you have to stop looking at the words as things and start looking at them as parts of a larger phrase. Think about how these words are used in daily conversation. Are they synonyms? Or are they all related to a specific industry?
A nudge in the right direction
Let’s look at some of the words on the board. You’ve got terms that feel very "techy" or maybe related to data. Then you have words that feel like they belong in a kitchen or a workshop.
If you see a word like PUMP, your brain might go to shoes. Or gas stations. Or maybe even exercise. But look at the other words. Is there anything else that moves liquid? That’s the kind of lateral thinking required for the Blue or Purple categories today.
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Dealing with the Red Herrings
The NYT editors love to put in "connector" words. For example, if you see the word LEAD, is it the metal? Is it a verb meaning to guide? Or is it a "clue" in a detective story? On April 18, pay close attention to words that could be both a noun and a verb. That is often where the Blue category lives.
April 18 NYT Connections hints: Category breakdown
Sometimes you just need to know what the "theme" is without seeing the actual answers. It helps preserve the "aha!" moment when you finally click the four words.
- Yellow Category Hint: These are all synonyms for a specific type of movement or a way to get someone's attention. Think about what you do when you want to emphasize a point or nudge someone.
- Green Category Hint: This group is all about things that hold something else. If you were looking at a technical manual or a piece of equipment, these words would appear frequently.
- Blue Category Hint: This is the "overlap" group today. These words are all types of a specific object, but they don't look like it at first glance.
- Purple Category Hint: This is the "wordplay" group. It’s the most difficult because the words themselves aren't related—their structure or a word that can be added to them is the link.
Still struggling? Let’s talk about the specific words
Okay, let's get specific. Look at EYE, HOOK, ZIPPER, and SNAP.
What do these have in common? They are all fasteners. This is a classic Green category. It isn't too tricky, but "Eye" often throws people off because they think of anatomy. In the world of sewing and clothing, a "hook and eye" is a very common closure.
Now, consider the word DRUM. If you see DRUM, BOWL, CAN, and TUMBLER, you might think of music or containers. In this case, they are actually all types of containers, but specifically, they are shapes or types of vessels.
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Why today’s puzzle feels harder than usual
The difficulty of Connections often depends on your personal vocabulary. If you don't sew, the "fasteners" group is tough. If you aren't into mechanical parts, the Blue category might feel impossible.
The April 18 puzzle relies heavily on "container" logic. We see words like JACK or POKE and our brains go to games or social media (remember "poking" people on Facebook? Glad that's over). But in the context of this puzzle, you have to strip away the modern slang and look at the most basic definitions.
The Purple Category: The ultimate "Gotcha"
Purple is almost always about "____ [Word]" or "[Word] ____".
On April 18, the connection is slightly more abstract. It’s about words that can follow a specific prefix or precede a specific noun. If you find yourself with four words that seemingly have zero connection—like a random verb, a piece of hardware, and a food item—you are likely looking at the Purple group.
Step-by-step strategy for solving the April 18 grid
Don't just start clicking. That is how you lose your lives by 8:05 AM.
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- Isolate the "Fasteners": Look for things that close a jacket or a bag. Once you pull those out, the board becomes much clearer.
- Look for "Containers": Anything that can hold liquid or bulk goods? Group those next.
- Check for "Nudges": Words that mean to push, poke, or prod.
- The Leftovers: By the time you get to the last four, they will be the Purple category. Even if they make no sense, they are your answer.
Common mistakes to avoid today
Don't fall for the "body parts" trap. EYE is here, but there aren't enough other body parts to make a full set of four. Similarly, don't get hung up on "Tools." While HOOK or JACK might seem like tools, they serve different purposes within their respective categories today.
Solving the puzzle: The actual answers
If you are at your wit's end and just want the answers to save your streak, here they are for the April 18 NYT Connections:
- Yellow (Nudge): JOG, NUDGE, POKE, PROD. (These are very similar in meaning, making this the most straightforward group).
- Green (Fasteners): EYE, HOOK, SNAP, ZIPPER. (Commonly found on clothing or luggage).
- Blue (Vessels/Containers): BOWL, CAN, DRUM, TANK. (These all hold large quantities of stuff).
- Purple (Words before "Pot"): CHIP, COFFEE, CRACK, STOCK. (Chip pot, Coffee pot, Crackpot, Stockpot).
The "Crackpot" and "Stockpot" connection is what makes Purple so devious. Most people don't think of "Stock" and "Crack" in the same sentence unless they are talking about a very strange kitchen accident.
Actionable tips for future puzzles
To get better at Connections, you need to broaden how you categorize words. When you see a word, ask yourself:
- Is this a part of a compound word?
- Is this a brand name?
- Does this word have a very specific meaning in a hobby like knitting, sailing, or card games?
- Can I add a word before or after it to make a common phrase?
The NYT Games team loves to use "Member of a [Group]" categories. For April 18, the "Pot" category is a perfect example of this. The more you play, the more you start to recognize the "shape" of a Purple category. It’s usually the group that makes you groan once the answer is revealed.
If you managed to solve today's puzzle without help, congratulations. If not, don't sweat it. Tomorrow is a new grid, a new set of traps, and another chance to keep that streak alive. Just remember to look for those hidden phrases before you commit to your first four clicks.