The New York Times’ daily Connections puzzle continues to challenge wordplay enthusiasts. Today’s edition (#960) offers a mix of straightforward and deceptively tricky categories. Here’s a breakdown of the hints and answers, categorized by difficulty, for those seeking assistance or a quick solution.
Understanding the Game
Connections presents players with 16 words arranged in a 4×4 grid. The objective is to group these words into four categories of four, based on a shared theme. The challenge lies in identifying the underlying connections, which can range from synonyms and word associations to more abstract relationships.
Hints for Each Category
The Times provides varying degrees of difficulty in its grouping. Today’s puzzle includes:
- Yellow (Easiest): This group revolves around unfair treatment.
- Green: The theme here involves making someone feel fear or submission.
- Blue: This category focuses on well-known figures from the world of film.
- Purple (Hardest): This grouping demands a twist in animal names.
Today’s Connections Answers
Here are the solutions for each category:
- Yellow: Exploit. The words are drain, fleece, milk, and squeeze. All four terms represent taking advantage of someone or something.
- Green: Daunt. The grouping consists of buffalo, cow, rattle, and ruffle. These terms evoke intimidation or fear.
- Blue: Iconic Actresses. The answers are (Glenn) Close, (Sally) Field, (Jodie) Foster, and (Sigourney) Weaver. All four are highly recognizable figures in film.
- Purple: Mammals Minus Last Letter. The answers are badge (badger), goa (goat), moos (moose), and rabbi (rabbit). This grouping requires removing the final letter from each animal name.
Tracking Your Performance
The NYT Games section now includes a Connections Bot that analyzes player progress. Registered users can track their score, win rate, perfect scores, and win streaks. This feature adds an extra layer of engagement for those who enjoy quantifying their puzzle-solving abilities.
Conclusion
Today’s Connections puzzle blends logical word associations with a challenging twist in the purple category. Whether you seek a quick solution or enjoy the mental exercise, this daily game offers a satisfying dose of linguistic fun.
