Feeling stuck on today’s Connections puzzle? Don’t worry, we’re here to ensure you can add an exclamation point to your victory announcement! Honestly, I think every solver deserves that little punctuation perk, whether or not they hit a “perfect” score. These puzzles can be quite tricky, and a little adrenaline rush for completing them is well-deserved!
If you’re hunting for an additional challenge, try out the daily The Strands puzzle. This one allows for more mistakes while giving you plenty of hints to help you through. Your final score will depend on how many hints you utilized and how quickly you completed it. Finding the “spangram” can really help you grasp the theme and finish the puzzle without relying on extra hints.
Hints for Today’s Connections Categories
OCTOBER 25 #502
As you work through the puzzle, remember that figuring out the categories can be the toughest part. You’re not alone in this! Some categories overlap significantly, and there’s one word that might catch you off guard. Here are four hints, each corresponding to a category:
- One category focuses on making a statement.
- Another is tied to events where you dress up nicely.
- A category involves something you’d need if you’re a big fan of apples.
- One category includes four items that share a common single word, applicable in certain contexts.
Related
8 NYT Spelling Bee Strategies To Keep Your Streak Alive
The Spelling Bee puzzles from the New York Times can be challenging, requiring strategic thinking to maintain a streak of correct answers for more points.
Today’s puzzle heavily revolves around the category names—knowing them can save you from frustration. Use this knowledge to your advantage.
 | . |
 | EVENT WITH DANCING |
 | IPHONE MESSAGE TAPBACK RESPONSES |
 | “PAN” |
Answers for Today’s Connections
OCTOBER 25 #502
Yellow Answers: Revealed & Explained
. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DOT | PERIOD | POINT | TITTLE |
This category was quite challenging, especially with the various punctuation terms involved. I was also unfamiliar with the word ‘TITTLE’ before this puzzle. While it brings something to mind, I learned that its definition as a dot or period is considered “archaic,” easing my feelings of not recalling it. Having explored ancient languages, I feel slightly regretful for missing such a tiny word!
Green Answers: Revealed & Explained
EVENT WITH DANCING | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BALL | FORMAL | HOP | RAVE |
I initially associated RAVE with other positive expressions like THUMBS UP and HEART. However, they actually all pertain to dance events, which I tend to avoid. If you felt unsure right away with HOP, just remember it, like TITTLE, is somewhat outdated in this context.
Blue Answers: Revealed & Explained
IPHONE MESSAGE TAPBACK RESPONSES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| EXCLAMATION POINTS | HEART | QUESTION MARK | THUMBS UP |
Even as an iPhone owner, I found myself distracted by other punctuation categories. While I use them frequently, I don’t think of them as distinct “items” for a puzzle. I imagine it would seem even more perplexing for those unfamiliar with iPhone notifications, although maybe the editor expected you would recognize them.
Purple Answers: Revealed & Explained
“PAN” | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BAD REVIEW | CAMERA MOVEMENT | COOKWARE | SATYR |
This category was particularly tough to crack. Once I had just a few options left, everything clicked. Initially, I wondered why “SATYR” was included; its relevance eluded me. Additionally, it had been a while since I encountered “pan” being used as a synonym for a bad review, but unlike “TITTLE,” at least that memory resurfaced. It’s nice that playing Connections helps modernize my vocabulary—bringing back uses for words like “TITTLE” sounds appealing!
More Games Like Connections
If you’re eager for more puzzles, consider checking out Nerdle for a numeric twist.
- Released
- June 12, 2023
- Developer(s)
- The New York Times Company
- Publisher(s)
- The New York Times Company
- ESRB
- Everyone
- Platform(s)
- Web Browser, Mobile