A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #23
hints & answers for July 4, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows July 4, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, B, B and M. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BEACH BOY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

'60S BAND MEMBERS

Reveal all four words
  • BEACH BOY
  • BEATLE
  • BYRD
  • MONKEE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with D, M, M and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DOUGIE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DANCE FADS

Reveal all four words
  • DOUGIE
  • MACARENA
  • MASHED POTATO
  • TWIST

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Think of titles you could find on a newsstand.

Show one word

FORTUNE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MAGAZINES

Reveal all four words
  • FORTUNE
  • ROLLING STONE
  • VOGUE
  • WIRED

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, G, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHAIN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH LINKS

Reveal all four words
  • CHAIN
  • GOLF COURSE
  • SAUSAGE
  • WEBSITE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: '60S BAND MEMBERS
  • Green: DANCE FADS
  • Blue: MAGAZINES
  • Purple: THINGS WITH LINKS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

'60S BAND MEMBERS

BEACH BOY · BEATLE · BYRD · MONKEE

Green

DANCE FADS

DOUGIE · MACARENA · MASHED POTATO · TWIST

Blue

MAGAZINES

FORTUNE · ROLLING STONE · VOGUE · WIRED

Purple

THINGS WITH LINKS

CHAIN · GOLF COURSE · SAUSAGE · WEBSITE

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.