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Below are some subtle hints regarding today’s puzzle answers. Scroll through carefully to gather only the clues you need!

Credit: Connections/NYT

Hints for Themes in Today’s Connections Puzzle

Here are some spoiler-free clues to help you identify today’s groupings:

• Yellow category – Reflects what a student ultimately does to their mentor, particularly in cinematic stories.

• Green category – Essential items for a day spent outdoors.

• Blue category – While you may not be Harrison Ford, these items will help you achieve a similar look.

• Purple category – Sounds associated with individuals in political power.

Warning: Spoilers Coming Up!

Details of some answers will be disclosed shortly. Proceed with caution if you prefer to unravel the puzzle yourself! (The complete solution can be found a bit further down this page.)

Getting Ready for Some Tricky Elements

Among the notable elements, BOMBER signifies a BOMBER jacket linked to a well-known adventurous archaeologist.

Remember, TOP is utilized as a verb here—not as the type of hat that corresponds with a FEDORA.

BLANKET denotes a cozy item, potentially one featuring a classic red and white checkered pattern.

The purple collection presents quite a challenge; it consists of terms that rhyme with entirely different words not included on the grid. Fortunately, the other categories are relatively straightforward.

Playing the Game: Connections

For those seeking a comprehensive guide to Connections, here’s a quick overview of the rules:

Begin by locating the Connections game on either the New York Times website or within their Games app (formerly known as the Crossword app). You will encounter a board of 16 tiles, each displaying a word or phrase. Your task is to select four tiles that share a common theme. Often the selections are similar categories (e.g., RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW signifying types of precipitation), although wordplay may also be involved (e.g., BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH, which relate to types of lists).

After selecting four terms, press Submit. A successful guess will reveal the related theme and color (with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple). If incorrect, you will have the chance to try again.

You win the game by correctly identifying all four groups. However, if you make four mistakes before completing the task, the game concludes, and the answers are presented.

Winning Strategies for Connections

The key to success in Connections is to recognize that the groupings are often more complex than they initially seem. Watch for overlapping themes. For instance, one challenge featured several breakfast items: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. Unexpectedly, BACON was part of a collection related to painters, including CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, while EGG belonged to a grouping of objects typically found in dozens (like JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). Thus, be cautious before submitting a selection until you verify that all four items fit together exclusively.

If stuck, another tactic is to examine words that seem disconnected from others. For example, if WHISTLER brings to mind the painting “Whistler’s Mother,” consider if there’s a thematic link. When solving in the past, this strategy often led to searching for unexpected connections like the painter named Close, who also appeared to float adrift thematically.

And of course, reading helpful hints is another route when facing roadblocks—which is why these insights are shared daily. Check back tomorrow for the next intriguing puzzle!