Waking up and opening the NYT Games app feels like a morning ritual for millions, but today hits different. If you're staring at the grid for the connections hint April 23 puzzle and feeling like your brain is short-circuiting, you aren't alone. Honestly, Wyna Liu—the associate puzzle editor who curates these—is known for a specific brand of deviousness that often peaks on Tuesdays.
It's a game of logic, sure. But it's also a game of cultural literacy and linguistic traps. You see a word like "HAM" and think food, right? Or maybe theater? That's exactly where they want you.
The Reality of the Connections Hint April 23 Grid
Let’s get real about why today is a struggle. Most people jump into the grid looking for the "Yellow" category—the straightforward one. But on April 23, the overlap is brutal. You’ve got words that look like they belong in a hardware store, and others that seem like they’re straight out of a classic cartoon.
The trick is usually the "Purple" category. It’s rarely about what the words are. It’s almost always about what the words follow or what they precede. Think about common phrases. If you’re looking for a connections hint April 23, look at the words that feel like they don't have a partner. If a word feels lonely, it’s probably part of a "Blank " or " Blank" category.
Why the Blue and Green Categories Are Tricky Today
Green is supposed to be the "Second Easiest," but it often requires a specific niche of knowledge. Today involves a bit of physical movement. Or, more accurately, the lack of it.
When you're scanning the board, pay attention to verbs. There are a few terms that describe how something might behave if it's broken or just acting up. If you've ever dealt with a bad internet connection or a flickering light, you’ll recognize the pattern.
Then there’s the Blue category. This one is often "Categorical." Think about groups of things that exist in the real world. On April 23, we’re looking at stuff you might find in a very specific type of kit or a specific professional’s bag. It’s not about synonyms here; it’s about shared utility.
Breaking Down the Potential Pitfalls
One of the biggest mistakes players make with the connections hint April 23 puzzle is "pre-guessing." You see three words that fit a theme perfectly and you click them immediately. Don't.
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NYT loves the "five-word trap." They will give you five words that fit "Types of Cheese" but only four belong in the actual solution. The fifth one belongs to a much harder category, like "Words that sound like letters."
- Check for homophones.
- Look for words that can be both a noun and a verb.
- Consider if a word is part of a compound phrase (like "Sand" and "Witch").
If you’re stuck on the connections hint April 23, try saying the words out loud. Sometimes the phonetic connection is the only way to break the mental block.
A Look at the Word List for April 23
Without giving everything away immediately, let's look at the vibe. You've got some heavy hitters today.
Words like JERK, TWITCH, and TIC are floating around. They feel related, don't they? They all imply a sudden, involuntary movement. If you find a fourth one—maybe something like SPASM—you’ve likely nailed a category. This is your classic "involuntary muscle movement" grouping. It’s usually the Green or Yellow level of difficulty because the synonyms are fairly direct.
But then you have the outliers. HAM. CLUTCH. CHOKE.
These are the ones that ruin your streak. CHOKE and CLUTCH are opposites in sports terminology, which is a common NYT distraction. But in a different context, they might relate to machinery or even clothing.
The Infamous Purple Category for April 23
The "Purple" category is the "how did I not see that?" tier. Often, it involves wordplay.
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For the connections hint April 23, think about words that can follow "RADIO" or "CASH." Or maybe words that are all synonyms for "Nonsense." (Balderdash, Bosh, Poppycock—you know the vibe).
Actually, let's look at a specific pattern often used in the April puzzles: "Body parts that are also verbs."
- EYE (to look)
- SHOULDER (to carry)
- HAND (to give)
- STOMACH (to tolerate)
If you see words that fit that mold today, grab them. They are almost certainly a group.
Navigating the Overlap
The hardest part of the connections hint April 23 puzzle is the "Red Herrings."
You might see several words that relate to "Theater."
- ACT
- HAM
- PROPS
- STAGE
But wait—HAM is also a type of radio. PROPS is also slang for respect. STAGE can be a period of time. This is where the game is won or lost. You have to find the "orphans." If HAM doesn't fit into any other category but "Theater," then it stays there. But if it fits into "Types of Radio" along with CITIZEN and SHORTWAVE, you have to pivot.
Expert Strategies for Future Grids
If you want to stop searching for a connections hint April 23 every morning and start solving them solo, you need a system.
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First, identify all possible connections before clicking anything. Spend two minutes just looking. If you find a group of six words that all seem to mean "Happy," you know that "Happy" isn't the category. It’s too broad. The real category will be more specific, like "Words that mean Happy but also start with a type of fruit." Okay, maybe not that hard, but you get the point.
Second, use the "Shuffle" button. It’s there for a reason. Our brains get locked into spatial patterns. We see two words next to each other and assume they are linked. Shuffling breaks that cognitive bias and lets you see the grid with fresh eyes.
Practical Steps for Your Next Move
To solve the connections hint April 23 puzzle effectively right now, follow these steps:
- Isolate the "Movement" words: Look for the involuntary twitches. These are your easiest path to clearing four tiles.
- Identify the "Pressure" words: There are words today that describe failing under pressure or succeeding in it. Be careful—they might be split into two different categories depending on the nuance.
- Search for the "Radio" connection: This is a classic NYT trope. If you see words that seem totally unrelated to anything else, see if they work as prefixes for a common noun.
- Test the "Nonsense" theory: Is there a group of words that essentially mean "rubbish"?
If you've already used three of your lives, stop. Don't guess. Walk away for ten minutes. The "incubation period" in psychology is a real thing where your subconscious continues to work on the problem while you're doing something else. When you come back, the connection between HAM and AMATEUR might suddenly seem obvious.
The connections hint April 23 isn't just about knowing words; it's about knowing how Wyna Liu thinks. Master the trap, and you master the game.
Check your remaining words against the "hidden category" of things that can be "cast"—like a spell, a shadow, a fishing line, or a vote. If those words are on your board, you’ve just found your Purple group. Clear the board and keep your streak alive.