The New York Times daily Connections puzzle challenges players to group sixteen words into four categories of four, testing vocabulary, pattern recognition, and associative thinking. Today’s puzzle (#868) offers a mix of straightforward and deceptively tricky groupings. For those seeking assistance, this guide provides both hints and the complete answers.
Category Breakdown and Hints
The puzzle’s difficulty varies across its four categories, color-coded from easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, and purple.
- Yellow (Easiest): The theme revolves around musical instruments.
- Green: This category references a well-known quote from boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
- Blue: The grouping focuses on different forms of competition.
- Purple (Hardest): This one is a bit obscure, testing knowledge of diminutive suffixes in English.
Complete Answers
Here are the solutions to today’s Connections puzzle:
- Yellow: Kinds of Instruments
- Brass
- Percussion
- String
- Wind
- Green: Muhammad Ali Quote
- Bee
- Butterfly
- Float
- Sting
- Blue: Kinds of Contests
- Beauty
- Popularity
- Staring
- Talent
- Purple: Diminutive Suffixes
- Doggy
- Droplet
- Kitchenette
- Starling
Additional Resources & Performance Tracking
The New York Times now offers a Connections Bot, similar to its Wordle bot, allowing players to receive performance scores and detailed analytics on their puzzle-solving habits. Registered users can track their win rates, perfect scores, and streaks, providing a deeper engagement with the game.
The daily Connections puzzle remains a popular brain teaser, blending linguistic skill with cultural awareness. This breakdown provides a quick, accurate reference for players seeking solutions or deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics.
