The New York Times’ Connections puzzle for January 11 (#945) tested players with a challenging set of word groupings. Here’s a breakdown of the hints and solutions, categorized by difficulty.
Puzzle Overview
Connections requires players to identify four groups of four words each, linked by a common theme. The puzzle is designed to be deceptively tricky, with words often fitting into multiple categories. The Times now offers a performance tracker for registered users, allowing them to monitor their stats and progress.
Hints by Difficulty
The groupings were ranked from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple). Here’s how the hints played out:
- Yellow Group: Hint was “Bunch”.
- Green Group: Hint was “Take the Nestea…”.
- Blue Group: Hint was “Want some water?”.
- Purple Group: Hint was “Neigh!”.
Today’s Solutions
The correct groupings were as follows:
- Yellow Group (Theme: Group): The words were band, crew, pack, and team. All terms refer to collections of individuals working together.
- Green Group (Theme: Plunge): The words were crash, crater, drop, and tank. These describe sudden downward movements or failures.
- Blue Group (Theme: Parts of a Sink): The words were basin, drain, faucet, and stopper. These are components commonly found in sinks.
- Purple Group (Theme: Equestrian Gear): The words were bit, crop, halter, and saddle. These are items used in horseback riding.
Previously Challenging Puzzles
Past Connections puzzles have demonstrated the game’s capacity for ambiguity. Some of the toughest included:
- #5: “Things you can set” (mood, record, table, volleyball).
- #4: “One in a dozen” (egg, juror, month, rose).
- #3: “Streets on screen” (Elm, Fear, Jump, Sesame).
- #2: “Power ___” (nap, plant, Ranger, trip).
- #1: “Things that can run” (candidate, faucet, mascara, nose).
The puzzle’s difficulty stems from the creative associations required to solve it. These earlier examples show that the game isn’t about straightforward definitions but about lateral thinking.
The Connections puzzle remains a popular daily challenge, testing vocabulary and associative reasoning.
