**Connections: The New York Times Word Game Everyone’s Buzzing About**

*Connections* stands out as one of the most beloved word games from the *New York Times*, enchanting players all around. This game tests your ability to identify “common threads among words,” and similar to *Wordle*, it refreshes daily at midnight. Each new puzzle becomes more challenging, so we’ve put together some tips and techniques to assist you in conquering today’s puzzle.

If you’re seeking today’s answer, scroll to the end of this article. But if you wish to figure it out yourself, continue reading for hints and insights to steer you.

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### What Is *Connections*?

The most recent daily word game from the *New York Times* has turned into a social media hit. Developed by associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, *Connections* has become a fixture in the *Times*’ Games section. It’s accessible on both web browsers and mobile platforms. The objective? To group four words that share a common concept.

Each puzzle features 16 words, separated into four categories. These categories can include anything from book titles to software names, country identities, and beyond. Although several words may appear to fit together, there is only one correct solution for each grouping.

When you successfully pinpoint a group of four, those words are eliminated from the board. However, incorrect selections count as errors, and players are permitted up to four errors before the game concludes.

To ease gameplay, participants can shuffle the board to reorganize the words. Each category is color-coded: yellow denotes the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. And, much like *Wordle*, you can share your outcomes with friends on social media.

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### Tips for Solving *Connections*

Having trouble with today’s puzzle? Here are some clues for the categories:

– **Yellow:** *A component*
– **Green:** *Sound-making helpers*
– **Blue:** *Gentle behemoths*
– **Purple:** *A boisterous category*

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### Today’s *Connections* Categories

In need of further assistance? Here are today’s categories:

– **Yellow:** *Part*
– **Green:** *Tools for playing an instrument*
– **Blue:** *Notable characteristics of an elephant*
– **Purple:** *Words incorrectly spelled in Nu Metal band names*

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### The Solution to Today’s *Connections* Puzzle

Eager for the answers? Here’s your final opportunity to turn back before we disclose the solution.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s *Connections* #577 is:

– **Part:** BRANCH, DIVISION, LIMB, WING
– **Tools for playing an instrument:** BOW, DRUMSTICK, MALLET, PICK
– **Notable characteristics of an elephant:** EAR, MEMORY, TRUNK, TUSK
– **Words incorrectly spelled in Nu Metal band names:** BISCUIT, CORN, LINCOLN, STAINED

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If you didn’t succeed this time, don’t fret—there’s always tomorrow’s puzzle to anticipate. We’ll return with more useful hints and strategies to keep your mind sharp.

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### Looking for More Puzzles?

If you enjoy word games, visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.

Want to revisit yesterday’s *Connections*? [Here’s the answer](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-sports-edition-hint-answer-today-january-8).

And if you’re also tackling *Wordle* or *Strands*, we offer hints and solutions for those as well. Happy puzzling!