Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds simple, but it isn’t. Connection categories can be almost anything, and they are usually quite specific. If you need help finding the answers, we’re here to help.
What are connections?
Connections is a game from the New York Times. The goal is simple: sort 16 words into groups of 4. Each group of words will be connected by a common idea or theme. That common element can be anything. We’ve seen everything from games that rely on the number of letters in the words to categories that require you to spot an extra letter at the end of the word. Sometimes they are references to the economy, other times they refer to fairy tales. There is no telling what kind of association will exist between words.
Once you’re sure you understand the connection, select four words and then click “Submit.” You only have four attempts in total, so don’t be too stingy.
Tips for current connection groups
Here are a few tips for the 506th Connections game to get you started:
The unsorted words for October 28.
If you still need help, the actual group names are:
Today’s NYT Connections answers
The unsorted words for October 29.
In pristine condition (yellow):
New, original, unused
Medical roles (green):
Present, Fellow, Intern, Resident
Singular noun in a famous ‘Julius Caesar’ line (blue):
Compatriot, ear, friend, Roman
___ Square (purple):
Perfect, Pocket, Times, City
How do you guess connection groups?
There is no fast, reliable way to access Connections like there is with Wordle, because Connections is not algorithmic. However, there are a few things to keep in mind that may help.
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Look for similar parts of speech. Are some words verbs and others nouns? Are there adjectives? Try to mentally group them based on those categories and see if any other patterns come to mind.
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Are the words synonyms? Sometimes categories are just synonyms for a sentence, or they are very close to synonyms. However, don’t rely on this too much. Occasionally Connections will intentionally use words that are sometimes synonyms to mislead you.
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Try to pronounce the words. Sometimes it helps to say the words. One puzzle we saw contained the words go, rate, faster, clip, pace, speed, move, shuttle and haste, all of which are clearly related to the idea of movement. However, when you say them, it becomes a little clearer that just four (go, move, hurry, faster) are things you would actually say to get someone to move.
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Expect the red herring. Connections usually contains words that can plausibly, yet incorrectly, be grouped together. Take the words Bud, Corona and Light as an example. You might instinctively see these three words together and assume they were lumped into a category related to beer, but that wasn’t the case.
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Search for different words. If a word on your board doesn’t have multiple meanings or can really only be used in one context, try using that word as the basis for a category.
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Shake the board. Sometimes moving words around helps you look at them in a new way.
If you haven’t solved this one, don’t feel too bad. There is always tomorrow! And those words can connect to a topic you’re interested in, giving you an edge over the competition.