Not the Connections game you’re looking for? Here are the hints and solution for Sunday’s game.
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Hey there, Connectors! I hope you had a tremendous weekend. I’m very happy to be back here with you for another weekday run of this column.
As always, let’s get things started on this Monday edition with a fun, upbeat song. I hope it lifts your spirits at the start of the week. If it gets your head bobbing, toes tapping and voice singing, even better.
I had “Keep On Movin’” by Five stuck in my head much of the weekend, so that’s what what we’re going with today. I’ve always liked this song. It’s a fun pop track with a positive message:
Today’s NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, July 13 are coming right up. Let’s get rolling!
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How To Play Connections
Connections is a free daily New York Times game that challenges you to arrange a grid of 16 words, phrases or symbols into four groups. The categories can involve anything from simple synonyms and cultural references to words that start with homonyms for birds.
There’s only one correct answer. Connections often features red herrings and other tricks like wordplay. You can make three mistakes, but a fourth spells game over and the end of your current streak!
The categories are color coded. Yellow is supposed to be the easiest to figure out, followed by green, blue and then purple. But it’s all relative as Connections tests your knowledge and deductive reasoning skills.
You can track your stats over time and earn badges for achievements like lengthy streaks or achieving a reverse rainbow. This involves submitting the purple category first, followed by blue, green and yellow. I’m here to help players figure out which is which.
You can play Connections on the NYT website or NYT Games app. NYT subscribers can access the full archive of more than 1,100 games of Connections. Each day’s game goes live at midnight local time.
Today’s NYT Connections Word List
Scroll slowly!
After today’s Connections word list, I’ll give you a hint for each category. After that, I’ll reveal one word that goes into each group. Then I’ll reveal the categories, followed by the full answers.
Got it? Cool.
Today’s 16 words are…
- UMBRELLA
- SALEM
- BUCKET
- QUESTION
- PUSS
- GRILL
- PUMP
- KISSER
- MUG
- FIGARO
- SMACKDOWN
- DRAWER
- EXAMINE
- BUSSIN
- TOM
- PECKISH
A Hint For Today’s Connections Groups
The hints for today’s Connections categories are:
- 🟨 Yellow group — press for answers
- 🟩 Green group — get a grip!
- 🟦 Blue group — this group might give you paws for thought
- 🟪 Purple group — pucker up (front)
One Answer For Each Connections Group
Be warned: we’re starting to get into spoiler territory.
Let’s take a look at one answer for each group.
Here we go…
- 🟨 Yellow group — PUMP
- 🟩 Green group — MUG
- 🟦 Blue group — TOM
- 🟪 Purple group — SMACKDOWN
Today’s Connections Categories
Today’s Connections groups are…
- 🟨 Yellow group — interrogate
- 🟩 Green group — things with handles
- 🟦 Blue group — fictional cats
- 🟪 Purple group — starting with smooches
What Is Today’s Connections Answer?
Spoiler alert! Don’t scroll any further down the page until you’re ready to find out today’s Connections answers.
This is your last chance to look away.
This is your final warning!
Today’s Connections answers are…
- 🟨 Yellow group — interrogate (EXAMINE, GRILL, PUMP, QUESTION)
- 🟩 Green group — things with handles (BUCKET, DRAWER, MUG, UMBRELLA)
- 🟦 Blue group — fictional cats (FIGARO, PUSS, SALEM, TOM)
- 🟪 Purple group — starting with smooches (BUSSIN, KISSER, PECKISH, SMACKDOWN)
I kid you not, I thought of SALEM as a cat as soon as I saw it on the top line and my suspicions were confirmed as I worked my way through writing out the word list. Immediate blues today.
The purples were next. SMACKDOWN didn’t really fit with anything else (no other pro wrestling references in the mix today!). A glance over at KISSER made it clear which direction I had to go. I hadn’t heard of “buss” in this context before, but it was the only remaining word that made sense with the other three in this group.
The yellows were next and that left the mildly esoteric greens for the win. My 498th in a row, in fact. Me? Nervous? No way.
How did you get on this time? Here’s my grid:
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
Want to know more about how everything fits together? Let’s explore today’s game in more depth in my NYT Connections Answers Explained column right here:
Be sure to check my blog tomorrow for hints and the answer for tomorrow’s game of Connections if you need them.
P.S. Lest you think I have run out of ways to mention that one band I like so much, I stumbled across this really fun cover of Electric Callboy’s “We Got The Moves.” Melodicka Bros turned the dance-metal banger into a country tune and I think it’s delightful. I’m not gonna make the Electric Cowboy joke. I swear, I’m not going to do it:
Oh heck, let’s double up with their version of “Tekkno Train.” I’m feeling generous:
Have a great day! Stay hydrated! Be kind to yourself and each other! Call someone you love!
Please follow my blog for more NYT Connections hints and help with other word games, and even some video game news, insights and analysis. I’d really appreciate that as it helps me out. If you share this column with others who play Connections, that would be lovely too. You can also read my weekend editions of this column and more of my writing at my newsletter, Pastimes.
