March 28, 2025 Connections Puzzle #656: Tips and Solutions

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If you’re aiming to complete today’s Connections puzzle, we have some tips to help you fill in an entire row. You may find certain parts of this puzzle challenging at first glance, and it’s easy to feel stuck. But with a bit of insight and maybe a hint or two, the patterns will start to emerge, and you’ll breeze through to finish without much hassle.

For those looking for an extra challenge, give the NYT’s Letter Boxed puzzle a try. It tends to be a bit tougher, but the good news is you have endless chances to discover the right answers. It can take quite a bit of trial and error to arrive at the final set of five words. I find it to be a lot of fun, twisting and turning around the edges of the box to create connections and piece it all together.

Today’s Connections Category Hints

MARCH 28 #656

If you need some help, here are some hints that won’t spoil too much. When I first encountered today’s puzzle, I thought it was trickier than it really was. Over time, I found it was more manageable than I expected, but it can still confuse you. To help you complete it without too many wrong guesses, consider these clues:

• One category features four words related to actions you might take in sports.
• One group contains words that describe a method of holding something.
• Another category consists of four items you’d spot if you attended a certain gathering.
• One collection includes four words that precede a different term, which is something you might have at home.

If you’re struggling to relate these hints to specific words, check the category names for guidance. If you’re still unsure about any term or keep ending up "one away," looking at the complete categories can be a great strategy.

Today’s Connections Answers

MARCH 28 #656

Yellow Answers: Revealed & Explained

Here’s a breakdown of the answers in the yellow category, explained:

• HURL – This refers to throwing something with force. Other related words include:
  • CHUCK
  • PELT
  • PITCH
  • SLING

This category took me a moment to figure out; I only noticed it after seeing some of the clothing items. I initially thought PELT could refer to clothing as well. I eventually guessed differently, allowing me to organize this category without losing too many attempts.

Green Answers: Revealed & Explained

The green category consisted of terms relating to being on either side of something:

• BE ON BOTH SIDES OF – Key words were:
  • BOOKEND
  • BRACKET
  • FLANK
  • SURROUND

I found this category last but managed to separate it from the more difficult ones. It dawned on me that BRACKET and BOOKEND were a likely pair, although FLANK and SURROUND felt more military-oriented. Eventually, I recognized their shared meanings, which helped me wrap up that section.

Blue Answers: Revealed & Explained

For the blue answers relating to a classic Girl Scout uniform, we had:

• PARTS OF A CLASSIC GIRL SCOUT UNIFORM:
  • BADGE
  • BERET
  • SASH
  • SKIRT

Though I never participated in Scouts, these terms were clearly associated with clothing. PELT puzzled me at first due to my focus on historical garments, but ultimately, I figured it out.

Purple Answers: Revealed & Explained

Finally, the purple answers connected to:

• ___HALL:
  • BINGO
  • CITY
  • MONTY
  • STUDY

None of these words particularly made sense to me at first, and I hadn’t considered them closely enough prior to this puzzle. I hadn’t recalled the Monty Hall problem until just now, making that answer tricky without outside help.

Other Games Like Connections

If you’re looking for more puzzles to enjoy, here are some alternatives. Personally, I find Absurdle really engaging.

Try these out for some more enjoyable challenges!

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