Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Leave someone momentarily lost for words.
Show one word
DAZZLE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
FLABBERGAST
Reveal all four words
- DAZZLE
- FLOOR
- STUN
- WOW
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1179
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.
#1179
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
A string player might pack these alongside the instrument.
Show one word
BOW belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
THINGS IN A VIOLIN CASE
Reveal all four words
- BOW
- MUTE
- ROSIN
- SHOULDER REST
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
These can describe a canine by its work or appearance.
Show one word
HUNTING belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
___ DOGS (THAT ARE DOGS)
Reveal all four words
- HUNTING
- RESCUE
- SAUSAGE
- SHEEP
Adding DOGS gives HUNTING DOGS, RESCUE DOGS, SAUSAGE DOGS and SHEEPDOGS.
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
The shared ending suggests a pet, but the full expressions mean something else.
Show one word
CORN belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS)
Reveal all four words
- CORN
- PRAIRIE
- SALTY
- TOP
CORN DOGS are food, PRAIRIE DOGS are rodents, SALTY DOGS can mean sailors, and TOP DOGS are leaders.
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
FLABBERGAST
DAZZLE · FLOOR · STUN · WOW
Green
THINGS IN A VIOLIN CASE
BOW · MUTE · ROSIN · SHOULDER REST
Blue
___ DOGS (THAT ARE DOGS)
HUNTING · RESCUE · SAUSAGE · SHEEP
Purple
___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS)
CORN · PRAIRIE · SALTY · TOP
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.