**Connections: The Latest Word Game Phenomenon from The New York Times**
*Connections* is the latest word game introduced by the *New York Times*, rapidly gaining popularity among enthusiasts. The game invites players to discover “common themes among words,” and similar to *Wordle*, it refreshes every day at midnight. Each puzzle presents a new challenge with escalating difficulty. If you find yourself in a bind, we have hints and tips available to assist you.
If you’re solely interested in today’s answer, just scroll down to the conclusion of this article. However, if you prefer to tackle it independently, continue reading for some useful clues and techniques.
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### What is *Connections*?
The *New York Times* has launched yet another popular word game in its lineup. Developed in collaboration with associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, *Connections* has taken social media by storm. This game is accessible on both web platforms and mobile devices, and it challenges players to categorize four words that share a unified theme.
Each puzzle comprises 16 words, organized into four distinct categories. These categories can include anything from book titles to software, country names, and beyond. Although some words might appear to fit different groups, there’s only one correct grouping for each set.
When you successfully classify four words, they disappear from the board. However, incorrect guesses count as mistakes, and players are allowed a total of four errors before the game concludes. To simplify things, you can rearrange the board to gain a new viewpoint. Each group is color-coded: yellow (the easiest), followed by green, blue, and purple. Also, similar to *Wordle*, you can share your outcomes with friends on social platforms.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections* Categories
Need a little help? Here are some hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** To postpone or delay
– **Green:** Typically found at a bar
– **Blue:** Vessels or boats
– **Purple:** Featured in a classic jungle monkey game
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### Today’s *Connections* Categories
Still looking for assistance? Here are the categories for today:
– **Yellow:** Defer
– **Green:** Bar Fixtures
– **Blue:** Watercraft
– **Purple:** Featured in “Donkey Kong”
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### Today’s *Connections* Solution
Ready to uncover the answers? This is your final chance to pause and solve the puzzle before we disclose the solution.
Here we go!
The solution to today’s *Connections* #556 is:
– **Defer:** DELAY, POSTPONE, SHELVE, TABLE
– **Bar Fixtures:** COUNTER, KEG, STOOL, TAP
– **Watercraft:** BARGE, JUNK, SUB, TUG
– **Featured in “Donkey Kong”:** BARREL, GORILLA, HAMMER, LADDER
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Don’t be discouraged if you weren’t successful this time—there’s always tomorrow! A new *Connections* puzzle will be ready for you to solve, and we’ll return with more hints and answers to assist you.
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### Seeking More Games?
If word games are your preference, visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more. And if you’re engaged with the *NYT*’s *Strands*, we have hints and solutions for that as well.
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Here’s the solution.](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-sports-edition-hint-answer-today-december-19)
Enjoy puzzling!