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How have people reacted to today’s NYT Connections puzzle? Even seasoned solvers find the challenge of grouping words into four different categories. Today’s game (#564) can be enlightened with hints and answers lucky enough and may even give some perception to the categories. For more concise clues and the full solutions, read on.
An estimate of something
Words of approximation or inexactness.
Natural found plants that are sizable
Common types of large, well-known trees of various landscapes.
Large/or plentiful
Words for something generous, substantial, or abundant.
Used as shorthand for certain places in America.
Communication and journalism use American state abbreviations often.
These are merely hints, but the trick is figuring out exactly how word go together.
Need more help? The answers are given below.
The NYT connection categories with the answer are as follows:
APPROXIMATELY: ABOUT, AROUND, LIKE, ROUGHLY
Each term indicates an estimation, or inexact measurement, used to denote the approximation.
TREES: ELDER, PALM, PINE, SPRUCE
These are all well-known trees of tropical and temperate climates.
SIZEABLE, AS AN AMOUNT: HEALTHY, HANDSOME, RESPECTABLE, TIDY
These words typically describe or refer to things of generous or notable qualities, generally with a positive connotation.
U.S. STATE ABBREVIATIONS (AP STYLE): ALA, ARK, MISS, ORE
The abbreviations U.S. states as per the Associated Press style guidelines.
Today’s puzzle is a combination of familiar and yet challenging categories. With synonyms for estimation and approximation, it is difficult to determine what words such as ‘about’, ‘like’, or any word besides your specific terms refer to an estimate or an approximation, because these words can apply in different situations. Similarly, to identify terms regarding trees, one would need to have a good grasp of botany.
Attention to detail is tested by including state abbreviations. In a single phrase, the word “MISS” could be transformed into a verb or a title if the abbreviation angle isn’t caught in time. The figure of speech makes the words for substantial amounts like ‘handsome’ or ‘tidy’ much more complicated.
NYT Connections is still pushing players with its word groupings. In today’s game, language nuance helps to build up the experience. The puzzle keeps players on their toes whether they’re understanding approximate terms or recognizing state abbreviations.
Connections have to do with vocabulary but also lateral thinking. The themes are new each day, the word lovers are constantly engaging and puzzle puzzle-solving community keeps you hooked. For further hints and answers stay tuned!
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle was moderately difficult. The categories were obvious, but delicate associations with words. Most of them struggled better with the “TREES” and “APPROXIMATELY” categories; the third “SIZEABLE, AS AN AMOUNT” category was trickier. So the words 'handsome' and 'tidy' were less self-evident, more meaning was required.
Overall not too difficult if you know AP style guides, the category for U.S. state abbreviations. The puzzle as a whole presented a nice range of difficulty and a good chance for deduction by logic.
The puzzle was engaging and thought-provoking, but rather than holding some element of surprise it was a crutch. A clearer “SIZEABLE” ought to have helped provide more clues to who that guy was. Only it was a solid effort that kept players entertained. Keep on the lookout for the rest of the insights, hints and reviews of future puzzles.
