Yellow group
Straightforward
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with A, B, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
ARCH belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
FOOT PARTS
Reveal all four words
- ARCH
- BALL
- SOLE
- TOE
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #171
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.
#171
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
Each could have a part to play in a performance.
Show one word
BASS belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Reveal all four words
- BASS
- HARP
- HORN
- ORGAN
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
Short instructions for a four-legged pupil.
Show one word
COME belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
DOG COMMANDS
Reveal all four words
- COME
- DOWN
- SIT
- STAY
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with D, H, J and S. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
DOG belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
BADDIE
Reveal all four words
- DOG
- HEEL
- JERK
- SNAKE
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
FOOT PARTS
ARCH · BALL · SOLE · TOE
Green
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
BASS · HARP · HORN · ORGAN
Blue
DOG COMMANDS
COME · DOWN · SIT · STAY
Purple
BADDIE
DOG · HEEL · JERK · SNAKE
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.