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Cracked today’s NYT Connections puzzle? If not, don’t worry. Puzzle #579 offers an intriguing mix of categories designed to challenge the mind. Whether it’s a tricky phrase or a surprising grouping, this guide covers all the hints and solutions to help decode today’s puzzle.
Connections are a game of strategy and deduction. The objective is to group 16 seemingly unrelated words into four distinct categories. Today’s puzzle has its share of overlapping themes, making it both fun and frustrating.
Here are some spoiler-free hints for the themes in today’s puzzle:
Yellow: Words implying something depends on something else.
Green: Expressions used to calm someone down.
Blue: Ingredients that go into a classic Old Fashioned cocktail.
Purple: Elements connected to the Monty Hall Problem, a probability puzzle.
If the above hints aren’t enough, scroll further for deeper explanations and the final answers.
Detailed Clues and Strategies
Yellow Category – BE CONTINGENT (ON)
This group connects words that signify dependence. Think about scenarios where one action relies on another.
Keywords:
Depend
Hinge
Rely
Rest
While “door” might initially seem like a match with “hinge,” the connection here focuses on dependency, not physical objects.
Green Category – CALM DOWN Expressions
This grouping features commands often said to diffuse tense situations. Each word serves as a reminder to relax or stop overreacting.
Keywords:
Chill
Easy
Enough
Relax
Although these terms sound casual, they share the common theme of bringing calmness.
Blue Category – OLD FASHIONED Ingredients
The Old Fashioned is a timeless cocktail. This category includes key components of the drink, often topped with a maraschino cherry for garnish.
Key words:
Bitters
Orange
Rye
Sugar
The term “rye” here refers to whiskey, not bread. This distinction is crucial for solving the puzzle.
Purple Category – MONTY HALL PROBLEM Features
Inspired by the famous probability puzzle, this group highlights elements central to the scenario: choosing doors with hidden prizes.
Key words:
Car
Door
Goat
Host
The Monty Hall Problem revolves around choosing between doors to win a prize, often a car, while avoiding goats.
Here’s the full breakdown of the answers for Puzzle #579:
Yellow (BE CONTINGENT ON): Depend, Hinge, Rely, Rest
Green (“CALM DOWN”): Chill, Easy, Enough, Relax
Blue (OLD FASHIONED Ingredients): Bitters, Orange, Rye, Sugar
Purple (MONTY HALL PROBLEM Features): Car, Door, Goat, Host
Connections puzzles are designed to mislead. Overlapping groups and ambiguous clues require critical thinking. To solve effectively:
Look for unique terms that don’t fit obvious patterns.
Group words tentatively before submitting to avoid unnecessary errors.
Remember, certain words may belong to less obvious categories (e.g., “bacon” as a painter rather than a food item).
Today’s puzzle highlights how clever wordplay can make or break a grouping. For instance, “host” could be mistaken for social contexts, but it fits perfectly in the Monty Hall Problem theme. Similarly, “relax” might seem unrelated to “enough” until viewed through the lens of calming down someone overreacting.
Each category carries a layer of complexity, ensuring an engaging experience for both beginners and seasoned players.
Check back tomorrow for fresh hints and answers. Connections continue to offer exciting challenges daily, blending trivia, logic, and wordplay into an addictive experience.
