**Connections: The Latest Word Game Phenomenon from The New York Times**
*Connections* is the fresh word game from the *New York Times* that has swiftly drawn in lovers of puzzles. This game invites players to find “common links among words,” providing a novel take on word challenges. Much like *Wordle*, *Connections* refreshes daily at midnight, with each successive puzzle ramping up in difficulty. For those seeking guidance through the challenging groupings of words, we’ve compiled some tips and tricks below.
If you’re eager for today’s answer, feel free to jump to the end of this article. However, if you wish to tackle it independently, continue reading for valuable hints and pointers.
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### What is *Connections*?
The *New York Times* has introduced yet another success to its Games section with *Connections*, a daily word game that has turned into a social media sensation. Developed with the assistance of associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, the game can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices. The aim? Organize four words that have a shared theme.
Each puzzle consists of 16 words, which need to be categorized into four distinct groups. These groups might encompass anything from book titles to software names, countries, and beyond. While certain words may appear to fit in various categories, there is only one valid solution.
When players successfully identify a quartet of words, those words are cleared from the board. However, incorrect choices are counted as errors, and players can make up to four errors before facing game over. To simplify the task, players can shuffle the board for a new viewpoint.
Each group is color-coded according to difficulty: yellow denotes the easiest, succeeded by green, blue, and purple. Just like *Wordle*, you have the option to share your findings with friends on social media.
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### Tips for Playing *Connections*
1. **Focus on clear connections initially**: Begin with the yellow group, as it tends to be the most straightforward to spot.
2. **Rearrange the board**: Shuffling the words can assist in recognizing connections you may have overlooked.
3. **Consider unconventional associations**: Some links may not be immediately apparent, such as puns or clever wordplay.
4. **Apply process of elimination**: If a word doesn’t belong to one group, it could fit into another.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections* Categories
Need a little push in the right direction? Here are some gentle hints for today’s puzzle:
– **Yellow**: Officially acknowledge someone.
– **Green**: An airplane journey from beginning to end.
– **Blue**: Looking for something without visibility.
– **Purple**: Incorrectly spelled countries.
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### Today’s *Connections* Categories
If you’re still having trouble, here are the categories for today:
– **Yellow**: Assign a Title To
– **Green**: Components of a Flight
– **Blue**: Search (For) by Touch
– **Purple**: Countries Without First Letter
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### Today’s *Connections* Solution
Ready to find out the answers? Here’s the solution for today’s *Connections* puzzle:
– **Assign a Title To**: CALL, DUB, LABEL, NAME
– **Components of a Flight**: CRUISE, TAKEOFF, TAXI, TOUCHDOWN
– **Search (For) by Touch**: FISH, FUMBLE, ROOT, RUMMAGE
– **Countries Without First Letter**: INLAND, OLIVIA, RAN, WANDA
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Don’t fret if you weren’t able to crack it this time—there’s always tomorrow! A brand new *Connections* puzzle will be on standby for you, and we’ll return with additional hints and answers to support you.
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### More Games to Explore
If puzzles are your passion, check out the *New York Times*’ other games like *Wordle*, *The Mini Crossword*, and *Strands*. In search of even more excitement? Visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.
Missed yesterday’s puzzle? [Here’s the solution to yesterday’s *Connections*.](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-december-9)