If you’re aiming to beat your highest score in today’s Connections, you’ll need to win and do it while conserving your guesses. This can be quite a challenge, particularly in a puzzle like this one where the words have significant overlap, and one category appears more difficult than it really should be. To help you speed up your progress, we’ve got all the hints you need to stay on track and keep your winning streak going.
For those interested in a word-building puzzle rather than a categorization challenge, the NYT’s Spelling Bee might be perfect for you. There are tons of words to discover, but remember the letters in the hexagons will dictate which you can actually form. You’ll need to flex your creative muscles, but you’re free to guess as many times as you like to uncover all the words hidden within the puzzle. The more you find, the more you can brag to your friends about your accomplishments later.
Today’s Category Hints for Connections
January 23 #592
If you’re looking for hints, this is the right puzzle to check out. You’ll face some tricky words and one category that features an abundance of possible correct answers. While it’s typical for a fifth word to fit into a category, in this instance, there’s also a potential sixth. To sidestep confusion, here are some clues to help you uncover all the answers without wasting guesses. Once you’ve figured them out, you’ll be racing ahead.
- One category relates to actions a person can take when competing against another.
- One category includes items you might use in a specific environment.
- Another category is focused on tools for creating a particular appearance.
- One category contains four words that closely resemble the names of specific individuals.
If you’re still in search of hints, the category names are listed in the section below. However, this might not aid you if there’s a category with extra possible answers. If that’s the case, you can proceed to the spoilers below.
Categories | Words |
---|---|
OUTDO | BETTER, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP |
PICNIC ACCESSORIES | BASKET, BLANKET, COOLER, UTENSILS |
PARTS OF AN INDIANA JONES COSTUME | BOMBER, FEDORA, SATCHEL, WHIP |
RHYMES OF U.S. PRESIDENT NAMES | PAGAN, SMARTER, VIXEN, WIDEN |
Today’s Answers for Connections
January 22 #593
Yellow Answers: Explained
- OUTDO: BETTER, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP
This category is one that might trip you up, and it certainly caught me off guard. I was pretty sure I had guessed the right combination of words first, which made me quite frustrated when the game said otherwise. It might not matter too much, and it’s possible I simply got it wrong; however, I was certain I re-guessed it and received the “Already Guessed” message. I thought that both SMARTER and WIDEN could belong in this category. While SMARTER fits better, “to WIDEN the gap” conveys a similar meaning. Either way, this puzzle boggled my mind.
Green Answers: Explained
- PICNIC ACCESSORIES: BASKET, BLANKET, COOLER, UTENSILS
I nailed this one immediately, as none of the words seemed particularly elusive. This category perfectly encapsulates the essentials for a sunny picnic day. This category was a nice change of pace compared to the frustrations of the previous one. Although the COOLER feels a bit out of place in a classic picnic scene, it’s certainly a practical item.
Blue Answers: Explained
- PARTS OF AN INDIANA JONES COSTUME: BOMBER, FEDORA, SATCHEL, WHIP
If you’re piecing together the ultimate Indiana Jones outfit, you’ll need these accessories. The term BOMBER might be misleading at first; you’ll need to be aware that it refers to a specific type of jacket. For me, it was spotting FEDORA and WHIP that led me to solve this riddle. As the archaeologist, I’d be disappointed in myself if I had failed this one.
Purple Answers: Explained
- RHYMES OF U.S. PRESIDENT NAMES: PAGAN, SMARTER, VIXEN, WIDEN
This final category is a tricky one filled with rhyming words. I generally find these to be challenging, and it didn’t help that two words I believed were relevant to the yellow category appeared here instead. This unfortunate overlap made things somewhat more challenging; it’s a reminder to stay focused on the words I select.
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