NYT Connections looks simple — 16 words, 4 groups — but the puzzle is designed to mislead you. These strategies will sharpen your thinking and help you avoid the traps the editors set.
01Start with the easiest color (Yellow)
Yellow is the most straightforward group — tackle it first to eliminate 4 words and simplify the board.
Look for a tight, obvious theme: all types of the same thing, all parts of the same whole.
If nothing jumps out as Yellow, you may be overthinking it — try a more literal read of the words.
02Watch out for trap words
A trap word fits multiple categories — PIKE could mean a fish, a road, a medieval weapon, or a surname.
If a word feels "too obvious" for one group, it's probably placed there to mislead you.
The hardest puzzles (Purple) are almost entirely built on trap words and unexpected category labels.
03Think in categories, not meanings
Groups aren't just "similar words" — they share a precise category label defined by the puzzle editor.
Ask yourself: "What single word or phrase could describe all four of these as a group?"
Example: BASS, CRANE, SWIFT, JAY aren't just birds — they might all be "___ guitar brands" or "famous people named ___".
04Use process of elimination
Once you're confident about one group, submit it — the remaining 12 words become significantly easier.
Never guess unless you have at least 3 words you're certain belong together.
A wrong guess uses one of your four lives. Save guesses for when you're close to sure.
05Look for the unexpected connection
The category label is often a twist — "___ + BALL" or "words that follow THUNDER" rather than a direct noun.
When stuck, try reading each word as part of a phrase: "WHAT ___ WHAT" or "___ STONE".
Purple (hardest) groups often require you to know obscure slang, idioms, or pop culture references.
Still stuck?
ConnectHint gives you AI-powered nudges — not spoilers — so you can keep solving the puzzle yourself.