The New York Times Connections puzzle presents a new fresh brain teaser. The word for players to sort into four connected groups every day. While some categories are easy, some are as subtle as keen observation and as creative as thinking.
NYT Connections No. 545, the puzzle provided today, brings on wordplay and tricky associations that keep enthusiasts on their toes today. Let’s make this experience better with hints, solutions and tips.
It’s a game where 16 words in groups of four by shared connections. The puzzle’s color-coded difficulty levels make things interesting:
Yellow: Easiest group to identify.
Green: Moderately challenging.
Blue: It requires some thinking associations.
Purple: The trickiest and most unexpected.
Wyna Liu, the game editor, writes puzzle that are made complicated by decoys. Some words fit many categories — you must be careful about how you analyze them.
To tackle today’s Connections puzzle, consider these hints:
Yellow Group Hint: Close to each other.
Green Group Hint: Fish-related.
Blue Group Hint: Basketball connections.
Purple Group Hint: Think of something "long."
Yellow Group: Close to each other
Answers: Equate, Affiliate, Relate, Associate
Green Group: Fish-related
Answers: Bait, Chum, Fly, Lure
Blue Group: W.N.B.A. Teams
Answers: Liberty, Storm, Sun, Wings
Purple Group: "Long" Associations
Answers: Bow, Fellow, Horn, Legs
Tips for Success
Connections puzzles are used as a logic, vocabulary and detecting subtle relationships test. A few strategies can improve results:
Start each with obvious groups such as sports teams or thematic terms.
There are hidden links and you just need to find partial matches or prefixes to discover them.
Don’t rush — decoys are meant to mislead snap decisions.
Why Connections Stands Out
Connections brings a new view to puzzle games by blending wordplay with the act of analysis. The progression system for the game is from easy to challenging.
Whether solving for fun or competing for streaks, today’s Connections puzzle offers a rewarding mental workout. Decode the groupings, and revel in the satisfaction of connecting the dots!