The New York Times’ daily Connections puzzle continues to challenge players with its word association categories. Today’s installment, released on January 7th (puzzle #941), proved particularly tricky, with the purple category standing out as the most difficult. Here’s a breakdown of the hints and full solutions for those seeking assistance.
Puzzle Overview
Connections tasks players with grouping 16 words into four categories of four, based on shared themes or connections. The game has gained significant popularity alongside other NYT word puzzles like Wordle and Strands, and the Times now provides analytics via a dedicated bot, tracking completion rates and streaks for registered players.
Hints by Category
The puzzle’s difficulty stems from how the clues are worded. Here are the hints, progressing from easier to more challenging:
- Yellow: These words are lookalikes. Think about things that appear similar or are copies of something else.
- Green: These terms all relate to part of something larger. Consider fractions or ownership.
- Blue: All of these are frequently found on national flags. They’re common symbols of countries worldwide.
- Purple: This category requires a bit of lateral thinking. The connection involves a physical action applied to these items.
Complete Solutions
Here’s how the puzzle breaks down:
- Yellow (Doppelgänger): Clone, Double, Mirror, Ringer. These words all represent a copy or imitation of something original.
- Green (Portion): Concern, Interest, Share, Stake. These terms describe a part of something larger, whether it’s a financial investment or a level of engagement.
- Blue (Common Flag Symbols): Crescent, Cross, Star, Stripe. These are widely used symbols appearing on flags of many nations across the globe.
- Purple (Pressed Using a Press): Cider, Garlic, Trousers, Wine. This is the most obscure category. All four words describe items that are created or altered using a pressing mechanism: cider from apples, garlic via crushing, trousers ironed under pressure, and wine through fermentation in a press.
Past Difficult Puzzles
The Connections puzzle’s difficulty can vary significantly. Some of the toughest previous iterations include:
- #5: “Things you can set” (mood, record, table, volleyball)
- #4: “One in a dozen” (egg, juror, month, rose)
- #3: “Streets on screen” (Elm, Fear, Jump, Sesame)
These examples demonstrate that the puzzle often relies on abstract connections rather than straightforward definitions.
The Connections puzzle is designed to be challenging, requiring players to think creatively about how words relate to one another. Successfully solving it provides a satisfying mental workout.
