A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #35
hints & answers for July 16, 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 16, 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 D, N, P and Q. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DIME belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

U.S. COINS

Reveal all four words
  • DIME
  • NICKEL
  • PENNY
  • QUARTER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Look on the periodic table for these materials.

Show one word

IRON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

METAL ELEMENTS

Reveal all four words
  • IRON
  • LEAD
  • TIN
  • ZINC

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CLOVER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

LUCKY CHARMS MARSHMALLOWS

Reveal all four words
  • CLOVER
  • HORSESHOE
  • MOON
  • RAINBOW

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, H, N and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

AGAIN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ AND ___

Reveal all four words
  • AGAIN
  • HALF
  • NECK
  • SO
Show categories only
  • Yellow: U.S. COINS
  • Green: METAL ELEMENTS
  • Blue: LUCKY CHARMS MARSHMALLOWS
  • Purple: ___ AND ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

U.S. COINS

DIME · NICKEL · PENNY · QUARTER

Green

METAL ELEMENTS

IRON · LEAD · TIN · ZINC

Blue

LUCKY CHARMS MARSHMALLOWS

CLOVER · HORSESHOE · MOON · RAINBOW

Purple

___ AND ___

AGAIN · HALF · NECK · SO

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.