NYT Connections

Today’s NYT Connections: Hints and Solutions for 16th July, Sunday #401

Blog

Welcome to today’s NYT Connections breakdown. Let’s start with a quick tutorial for newcomers before diving into today’s puzzle.

How to Play NYT Connections

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle that tests your ability to find connections between words. Here’s how to play:

  1. The Basics:
  • You’re presented with a grid of 16 words.
  • Your goal is to organize these 16 words into 4 groups of 4.
  • Each group of 4 words shares a common theme or connection.
  1. Gameplay Mechanics:
  • Select 4 words you think are related and submit your guess.
  • If correct, the group will be revealed and color-coded.
  • Colors are assigned based on difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).
  • You have 4 attempts to find all groups correctly.
  1. Scoring System:
  • Solving the puzzle in fewer attempts earns you a better score.
  • The game tracks your winning streak and provides statistics on your performance.
  1. Daily Reset:
  • A new puzzle is released every day at midnight local time.
  • All players worldwide tackle the same puzzle each day.
  1. Strategies for Success:
  • Start with the obvious: Look for words that clearly fit together, like types of animals or colors.
  • Consider multiple meanings: Words might be connected by less obvious meanings or uses.
  • Think about categories: Groups could be types of something, like sports or professions.
  • Look for patterns: Words might be connected by spelling patterns or letter combinations.
  • Use the process of elimination: If you’re sure about one group, it can help you figure out the others.
  1. Common Theme Types:
  • Synonyms or related concepts
  • Items in a category (e.g., types of furniture)
  • Words that can follow or precede a common word
  • Idioms or phrases
  • Pop culture references (movies, books, music)
  • Homophones or words with similar sounds
  1. Tips for Tough Puzzles:
  • Take breaks if you’re stuck; a fresh perspective can help.
  • Try to think outside the box for less obvious connections.
  • Remember that the purple group is usually the trickiest.
  • Don’t be afraid to use your guesses strategically to eliminate possibilities.

Ready to play? You can find NYT Connections here: Play the game

Now, let’s tackle today’s puzzle!

Today’s Puzzle at a Glance

Today’s given 16 words are:

  1. Pan
  2. Pilot
  3. Short
  4. Rabbit
  5. Cross
  6. Parker
  7. Kinky
  8. Trial
  9. Piper
  10. Fiddler
  11. Testy
  12. Exploratory
  13. Merrily
  14. Surly
  15. Preliminary
  16. Jersey

Quick Hints

Need a nudge? Here are some spoiler-free hints:

  1. Yellow Group: Grumpy disposition.
  2. Green Group: Not quite the final version.
  3. Blue Group: Curtain up on the Great White Way.
  4. Purple Group: A common first name’s companions

What Are Today’s Connections Groups?

Today’s NYT Connections groups are:

  • Yellow Group: IN A BAD MOOD
  • Green Group: EXPERIMENTAL
  • Blue Group: STARTS OF BROADWAY MUSICALS
  • Purple Group: PETER ____

Remember, these are just the themes. The specific words and explanations are in the solution section below.

Solution for Today’s NYT Connections

SPOILER ALERT! Full solution below.

Group 1 (Yellow): CROSS, SHORT, SURLY, TESTY
Connection: These words all describe someone who is irritable or in an unpleasant mood.

Group 2 (Green): EXPLORATORY, PILOT, PRELIMINARY, TRIAL
Connection: These terms refer to initial or test phases of a project or study.

Group 3 (Blue): FIDDLER, JERSEY, KINKY, MERRILY
Connection: These are the first words of famous Broadway musical titles.

Group 4 (Purple): PAN, PARKER, PIPER, RABBIT
Connection: These words can all follow “Peter” to form names of well-known characters or figures.

Today’s Puzzle Insights

  • Trickiest Connection: Blue Group (STARTS OF BROADWAY MUSICALS) This group likely posed the most challenge as it required specific knowledge of Broadway show titles. “MERRILY” might have been particularly tricky for those less familiar with musical theater.
  • Easiest Connection: Yellow Group (IN A BAD MOOD) This group was probably the most straightforward, as the words are commonly used to describe irritable moods.
  • Interesting Word: “SHORT” This word could have been tricky to place, as it might initially seem connected to length or duration rather than mood.

Your Turn

How did you fare with today’s puzzle? Play Now!

Check back tomorrow for a new NYT Connections challenge.

Missed yesterday’s NYT Connections? Click here.

One Response