Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #579) - today's words
Today's NYT Connections words are…
- SUGAR
- GOAT
- RELAX
- ORANGE
- HOST
- REST
- DOOR
- HINGE
- EASY
- RYE
- DEPEND
- CAR
- RELY
- CHILL
- ENOUGH
- BITTERS
NYT Connections today (game #579) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Stand by me
- GREEN: Take the pressure off
- BLUE: Classic cocktail
- PURPLE: Game show brain teaser
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #579) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: BE CONTINGENT (ON)
- GREEN: "CALM DOWN"
- BLUE: INGREDIENTS IN AN OLD FASHIONED
- PURPLE: FEATURED IN THE MONTY HALL PROBLEM
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #579) - the answers
The answers to today's Connections, game #579, are…
- YELLOW: BE CONTINGENT (ON) DEPEND, HINGE, RELY, REST
- GREEN: "CALM DOWN" CHILL, EASY, ENOUGH, RELAX
- BLUE: INGREDIENTS IN AN OLD FASHIONED BITTERS, ORANGE, RYE, SUGAR
- PURPLE: FEATURED IN THE MONTY HALL PROBLEM CAR, DOOR, GOAT, HOST
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 2 mistakes
I was completely unaware of the “Monty Hall problem” and even after reading its Wikipedia page (views of which will reach a record high today) – much like Schrödinger's cat – I still don’t get it. I’d stick with my initial guess, or pick the GOAT. Thankfully, my job here is revealing the answers to Connections, not explaining Connections categories.
The other colors were much easier, especially INGREDIENTS IN AN OLD FASHIONED, as BITTERS are not used for much else. I did waste a mistake on “CALM DOWN”, picking REST instead of ENOUGH before switching focus to the list of dependables.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, 9 January, game #578)
- YELLOW: VENDOR'S SPOT AT A MARKET BOOTH, STALL, STAND, TABLE
- GREEN: DOG COMMANDS COME, HEEL, SIT, STAY
- BLUE: CORPORATE DEPARTMENTS FINANCE, IT, LEGAL, SALES
- PURPLE: LAST WORDS IN "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" FROM, SEA, SHINING, TO
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
