Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
The substance can change form as conditions change.
Show one word
GAS belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
STATES OF MATTER
Reveal all four words
- GAS
- LIQUID
- PLASMA
- SOLID
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #44
hints & answers
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#44
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, C, P and U. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
COPY belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
EDIT MENU COMMANDS
Reveal all four words
- COPY
- CUT
- PASTE
- UNDO
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, R, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CRUSH belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
DEFEAT BADLY
Reveal all four words
- CRUSH
- ROUT
- SHELLAC
- TRASH
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
The spelling can be rearranged without adding anything.
Show one word
LEAST belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
ANAGRAMS
Reveal all four words
- LEAST
- SLATE
- STALE
- TESLA
The entries use the same letters in different orders.
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
STATES OF MATTER
GAS · LIQUID · PLASMA · SOLID
Green
EDIT MENU COMMANDS
COPY · CUT · PASTE · UNDO
Blue
DEFEAT BADLY
CRUSH · ROUT · SHELLAC · TRASH
Purple
ANAGRAMS
LEAST · SLATE · STALE · TESLA
Make the connection
Four groups. Just enough help.
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Each group shares something: a meaning, a phrase, a sound, or an unexpected bit of wordplay.
Start with the group that has you stuck. Open its hint, try again, and reveal more only when you need it. Nothing you open will uncover a different group.
Before you spend another guess
- Find all four. Three convincing words can still be a trap. Look for a fourth that fits the same rule.
- Change the meaning. A word can be a noun, a verb, a name, or part of a phrase. Try reading it another way.
- Leave room for overlap. If five words seem to fit, test which one could belong to another group.
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.