Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
There is a charge running through this group.
Show one word
ELECTRIC EEL belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
ELECTRIC THINGS
Reveal all four words
- ELECTRIC EEL
- LIGHTNING
- LIVE WIRE
- PIKACHU
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1173
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.
#1173
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
A strong feeling is getting the better of someone.
Show one word
CHOKED UP belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
MOVED TO TEARS
Reveal all four words
- CHOKED UP
- EMOTIONAL
- MISTY
- OVERCOME
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
Imagine a paint chart with very little colour.
Show one word
ASH belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SHADES OF GRAY
Reveal all four words
- ASH
- DOVE
- PEWTER
- SLATE
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
Take away the first letter, then listen to what remains.
Show one word
BROCK belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER
Reveal all four words
- BROCK
- NEMO
- SPUNK
- WRAP
Removing the first letters leaves ROCK, EMO, PUNK and RAP.
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
ELECTRIC THINGS
ELECTRIC EEL · LIGHTNING · LIVE WIRE · PIKACHU
Green
MOVED TO TEARS
CHOKED UP · EMOTIONAL · MISTY · OVERCOME
Blue
SHADES OF GRAY
ASH · DOVE · PEWTER · SLATE
Purple
MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER
BROCK · NEMO · SPUNK · WRAP
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.