Trying to find the connections in a game of Connections might be tricky depending on how much the categories of a certain day differ from our vocabulary. If you need a nod in the right direction to figure out the answers, you have come to the right place.
The New York Times launched Connections in mid-2023, and the game has quickly gained popularity as a daily activity. Each day, the game presents sixteen different words in a 4×4 grid. Your goal is to find the eponymous connections between them. They are split into four categories, but you don’t know which categories these are when you start playing; you must look at all the words and try to deduce yourself.
To guess, simply select the four words you think are grouped together and click the Submit button. Doing so, you get feedback from the game on whether it was a correct guess or it cost you a “life.” You have a maximum of three mistakes to make each day, and making a fourth mistake means you lose.
With a correct guess, the selected words are removed from the “pool” and grouped together to reveal the name of their category. The four categories are color-coded in yellow, green, blue, and purple, where yellow is traditionally the most straightforward and purple is the trickiest.
Keep reading to find a few hints, the categories, and the answers for today’s Connections. Each of them is split in a different section, so as to not spoil the answers unintentionally.
Hints for today’s Connections (Oct. 2)
A few hints for today’s categories of Connections (#479) are:
- π¨ Yellow group: take a leap of faith
- π© Green group: ways to prepare onions
- π¦ Blue group: Italian-sounding American actor
- πͺ Purple group: some with so many, some with so little
We don’t want to make it too simple or obvious at first for those who only need a nod in the right direction. But if those still don’t ring a bell, you might need the actual names of each category.
That is where the next section comes in. Keep reading to learn more.
Today’s Connections categories (Oct. 2)
The categories that connect today’s words in Connections (#479) are:
- π¨ Yellow group: put on the line
- π© Green group: use a kitchen knife
- π¦ Blue group: Robert de Niro films
- πͺ Purple group: distinctive number of arms (or lack thereof)
Knowing the categories might give away most or all the answers, but we know that sometimes it can still be tricky to figure out which ones go where.
If you’re still unsure and don’t have any more room for mistakes, check out the actual answers for each category below.
Today’s Connections answers (Oct. 2)
The answers to today’s Connections puzzle (#479) are:
- π¨ Put on the line: BET, CHANCE, GAMBLE, RISK
- π© Use a kitchen knife:Β CUBE, DICE, JULIENNE, SLICE
- π¦ Robert de Niro films:Β CASINO, HEAT, JOKER, TAXI DRIVER
- πͺ Distinctive number of arms (or lack thereof):Β OCTOPUS, SHIVA, SLOT MACHINE, VENUS DE MILO
Past Connections answers
Oct. 1 (#478)
- π¨ Flustered state: LATHER, STEW, SWEAT, TIZZY
- π© Fitness: CONDITION, FORM, HEALTH, SHAPE
- π¦ Fast-moving water: CASCADE, CURRENT, RAPID, WAVE
- πͺ Dishwasher cycles: NORMAL, QUICK, RINSE, SANITIZE
Sep. 30 (#477)
- π¨ Cook with heat and water: BLANCH, BOIL, POACH, STEAM
- π© Common perfume ingredients: AMBERGRIS, MUSK, ROSE, VANILLA
- π¦ Characters with pet dogs: CHARLIE, DOROTHY, SHAGGY, WALLACE
- πͺ Capital city homophones: KETO, ROAM, SOPHIA, SOUL
Sep. 29 (#476)
- π¨ Make good on, as a promise: FULFILL, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLD
- π© Bedding: BLANKET, SHAM, SHEET, THROW
- π¦ Actions in card games: DISCARD, DRAW, PASS, PLAY
- πͺ Cabinet departments: ENERGY, JUSTICE, LABOR, STATE
Sep. 28 (#475)
- π¨ Composite: BLEND, COMPOUND, CROSS, HYBRID
- π© Embed: LODGE, PLANT, STICK, WEDGE
- π¦ Items in a Monopoly box: DEED, HOTEL, HOUSE, TOKEN
- πͺ ___ control: BIRTH, CRUISE, QUALITY, REMOTE
Sep. 27 (#474)
- π¨ Area of high ground: BANK, DUNE, HILL, MOUND
- π© Significance: GRAVITY, IMPORT, SUBSTANCE, WEIGHT
- π¦ Actions in fantasy sports: BENCH, DRAFT, START, TRADE
- πͺ Sci-fi movies, with “The”: ABYSS, FLY, MATRIX, THING
Sep. 26 (#473)
- π¨ Decorative edge: BORDER, FRILL, FRINGE, TRIM
- π© Increase, in a way: GROW, MOUNT, SWELL, WAX
- π¦ Specifications for a bartender: DRY, NEAT, STRAIGHT, VIRGIN
- πͺ String ___: BEAN, BIKINI, CHEESE, THEORY
Sep. 25 (#472)
- π¨ Trio of sports achievements: HAT TRICK, THREEPEAT, TRIFECTA, TRIPLE CROWN
- π© Needs for painting a room: DROP CLOTH, PAINT, ROLLER, TAPE
- π¦ Food named after cities: BROIL, CHEESESTEAK, SPROUTS, WINGS
- πͺ ___ derby: DEMOLITION, HOME RUN, KENTUCKY, SOAP BOX
Sep. 24 (#471)
- π¨ Inspired: CREATIVE, FRESH, NOVEL, ORIGINAL
- π© Procure in advance: BOOK, CHARTER, RESERVE, SECURE
- π¦ Bit of party decoration: BALLOON, BANNER, CONFETTI, GARLAND
- πͺ Online personality: AMBASSADOR, INFLUENCER, MODEL, STREAMER
Sep. 23 (#470)
- π¨ Not smooth, as terrain: BUMPY, ROUGH, RUGGED, UNEVEN
- π© Bit of land for growing: BED, PARCEL, PATCH, PLOT
- π¦ Member of a cartoon duo: CHIP, ROCKY, SCRATCHY, STITCH
- πͺ ___ Park: AMUSEMENT, NATIONAL, PARALLEL, SOUTH
Sep. 22 (#469)
- π¨ Color types: GRAYSCALE, NEON, NEUTRAL, PASTEL
- π© File menu options: NEW, OPEN, PRINT, SAVE
- π¦ Chance to win a prize: DRAWING, LOTTERY, POOL, RAFFLE
- πͺ What “bronze” might mean: ALLOY, SCULPTURE, SUNTAN, THIRD
Sep. 21 (#468)
- π¨ Clairvoyant: MEDIUM, MYSTIC, ORACLE, PSYCHIC
- π© Special edition adjectives: COLLECTIBLE, EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED. RARE
- π¦ “Great job!”: IMPRESSIVE, NICE, PROPS, WELL DONE
- πͺ Extremely: AWFUL, BLOODY, REAL, WAY
Sep. 20 (#467)
- π¨ Presume: FIGURE, IMAGINE, SUSPECT, THINK
- π© Somebody: CHARACTER, INDIVIDUAL, PARTY, PERSON
- π¦ Characters in “The Empire Strikes Back”, familiarly: BOBA, CHEWIE, EMPEROR, SOLO
- πͺ Words after “kitty”: CAT, CORNER, HAWK, LITTER
Sep. 19 (#466)
- π¨ Prefix meaning “very”: EXTRA, HYPER, OVER, SUPER
- π© Kinds of parties: BIRTHDAY, COCKTAIL, DINNER, SURPRISE
- π¦ PBS shows: FRONTLINE, MASTERPIECE, NATURE, NOVA
- πͺ Places in France: ANGERS, CHAMPAGNE, NICE, REUNION
Sep. 18 (#465)
- π¨ Gathering spot outside a residence: DECK, PORCH, STOOP, YARD
- π© Lowdown: DISH, DOPE, INFO, SCOOP
- π¦ Kinds of reels: BLOOPER, DEMO, HIGHLIGHT, SIZZLE
- πͺ Cartoon dogs minus “Y”: DROOP, GOOF, LAD, SNOOP
Sep. 17 (#464)
- π¨ Get excited, with “up”: AMP, FIRE, HYPE, PSYCH
- π© Kinds of shoes: FLAT, MULE, PUMP, SLIDE
- π¦ Legislative roles: CHAIR, LEADER, SPEAKER, WHIP
- πͺ Name homophones: DUG, MATTE, MIC, PEAT
Sep. 16 (#463)
- π¨ Foremost: CHIEF, PREMIER, PRINCIPAL, SUPREME
- π© Spiky things: CACTUS, HEDGEHOG, MACE, PINEAPPLE
- π¦ Overly sentimental work: CHEESE, CORN, MUSH, PAP
- πͺ Things that are capped: BOTTLE, GRADUATE, MUSHROOM, SALARY
Sep. 15 (#462)
- π¨ Reside: DWELL, INHABIT, LIVE, STAY
- π© Decrease: DECLINE, DROP, DWINDLE, EBB
- π¦ Doofus: CLOWN, DWEEB, SAP, TURKEY
- πͺ Member of a septet: DWARF, SEA, SIN, WONDER
Sep. 14 (#461)
- π¨ Wine bottle info: GRAPE, REGION, VINTAGE, WINERY
- π© Console inputs: BUTTON, KNOB, SLIDER, SWITCH
- π¦ Prefixes: PRO, RETRO, SUB, SUPER
- πͺ ___ King: BURGER, CALIFORNIA, LION, PROM
Sep. 13 (#460)
- π¨ Vitality: ENERGY, JUICE, LIFE, ZIP
- π© Palindromes featuring “E”: LEVEL, PEP, REFER, TENET
- π¦ Featured in Jack and the Beanstalk: BEANS, COW, GIANT, JACK
- πͺ Car models: BEETLE, CIVIC, FOCUS, VOLT
Sep. 12 (#459)
- π¨ Mark online for later: BOOKMARK, FAVORITE, LIKE, SAVE
- π© Behalf: ADVANTAGE, BENEFIT, INTEREST, SAKE
- π¦ NBA legends, familiarly: BIRD, CURRY, KOBE, MAGIC
- πͺ Ending with Greek letters: BIOTA, FETA, MOCHI, PEPSI
Sep. 11 (#458)
- π¨ Large amount of money: BUNDLE, FORTUNE, MINT, PILE
- π© Bits of wisdom: KERNEL, NUGGET, PEARL, TIDBIT
- π¦ Featured in Jurrasic Park: AMBER, DINOSAUR, MOSQUITO, PALEONTOLOGIST
- πͺ Things that are purple: AMETHYST, EGGPLANT, GRIMACE, LAVENDER
Sep. 10 (#457)
- π¨ Varieties: KINDS, SORTS, STRIPES, TYPES
- π© Transfer: DELIVER, GIVE, HAND, PASS
- π¦ Ratings systems: A-F, PERCENTAGE, STARS, THUMBS
- πͺ Things with kings: CHECKERS, DECK OF CARDS, MONARCHY, NHL
Sep. 9 (#456)
- π¨ Get red in the face: BLUSH, BURN, FLUSH, GLOW
- π© Continuous: CONSECUTIVE, NONSTOP, SOLID, STRAIGHT
- π¦ Flavor assortment: FLIGHT, PLATTER, SAMPLER, TASTING
- πͺ Sitcom: BLOSSOM, COACH, COMMUNITY, FULL HOUSE
Sep. 8 (#455)
- π¨ Verbs in a cake recipe: BAKE, BEAT, FROST, PREHEAT
- π© What a heart does when excited: POUND, PUMP, RACE, THROB
- π¦ Ecclesiastical titles: BISHOP, PASTOR, POPE, PRIOR
- πͺ ___ boys: BAD, BEACH, HARDY, PET SHOP
Sep. 7 (#454)
- π¨ Ways to transform an image: CROP, FLIP, ROTATE, SCALE
- π© Things used in golf: BALL, DRIVER, GLOVE, TEE
- π¦ Aquarium purchases: FILTER, PUMP, ROCKS, TANK
- πͺ Logos with horses: COACH, GODIVA, MUSTANG, POLO
Sep. 6 (#453)
- π¨ Quantity: AMOUNT, COUNT, NUMBER, TOTAL
- π© Incident: AFFAIR, EPISODE, EVENT, MATTER
- π¦ Things received in the mail: BILL, CARD, CATALOG, LETTER
- πͺ What “spring” might refer to: BOUNCE, COIL, GEYSER, SEASON
Sep. 5 (#452)
- π¨ Hair salon offerings: BLOWOUT, COLOR, CUT, TRIM
- π© Criticize: BASH, BLAST, PAN, SLAM
- π¦ Obtain: BAG, LAND, SCORE, SNAG
- πͺ Measured in football stats: ATTEMPT, RECEPTION, SACK, YARD
Sep. 4 (#451)
- π¨ Very small amount: HINT, SHRED, TOUCH, TRACE
- π© Puppy purchases: BED, BOWL, COLLAR, CRATE
- π¦ Help put on a party: CATER, HOST, PLAN, THROW
- πͺ Symbols on a keyboard: BRACE, CARET, HASH, STAR
Sep. 3 (#450)
- π¨ Absolve: EXCUSE, PARDON, SAVE, SPARE
- π© Excessively: BEYOND, EXTRA, OVER, TOO
- π¦ Global currencies: POUND, REAL, WON, YEN
- πͺ ___head: ARROW, BLOCK, FORE, KNUCKLE
Sep. 2 (#449)
- π¨ Peculiar: CURIOUS, FUNNY, OFF, WEIRD
- π© Assignment: JOB, POSITION, POST, STATION
- π¦ Classic collection items: COIN, COMIC, RECORD, STAMP
- πͺ Chain ___: LETTER, MAIL, REACTION, STORE
Sep. 1 (#448)
- π¨ Cook in a pan: BROWN, CHAR, GRILL, SEAR
- π© Parts of the ear: ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, HAMMER
- π¦ Shades of black: CHARCOAL, JET, RAVEN, SABLE
- πͺ Where you might find a “driver”: GOLF BAG, LIMOUSINE, MOVIE SET, TOOLBOX
