**Connections: The Latest Sensation in Word Games from The New York Times**
*Connections*, the fresh word game brought to you by *The New York Times*, has rapidly gained popularity among puzzle lovers everywhere. This captivating game invites players to discover the “shared themes among words.” Similar to *Wordle*, *Connections* refreshes each day at midnight, with every puzzle becoming more challenging as the days progress. To assist you in tackling these intricate puzzles, we offer some tips and strategies below.
If you’re just looking for today’s answer, feel free to scroll to the bottom of this article. But if you’d like to unravel it on your own, stay with us for insights and clues to assist you.
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### What Is *Connections*?
The latest word game from *The New York Times* has turned into a viral phenomenon, owing to its smart design and captivating gameplay. Developed with the assistance of associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, *Connections* has become a fundamental part of the *Times*’ Games section. It is available on both web platforms and mobile devices, with a straightforward yet challenging objective: categorize four words that share a common thread.
Each puzzle presents players with 16 words that need to be organized into four distinct groups. These groups can include anything from book titles to software names, countries, and beyond. While many words may seem to connect, only one correct solution exists for each cluster.
When a player successfully finds a set of four related words, those words are eliminated from the board. However, wrong guesses are counted as errors, and players can make up to four errors before the game concludes. To aid in this process, players may shuffle the board around to better identify connections.
Each category is color-coded to reflect difficulty: yellow for easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. After finishing the puzzle, you can share your results on social media with friends, similar to what you might do with *Wordle*.
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### Tips for Playing *Connections*
Having trouble deciphering the puzzle? Here are some useful hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Consider words that sound like the letter “T.”
– **Green:** Search for items that possess “teeth.”
– **Blue:** Think of light, non-offensive expressions of annoyance.
– **Purple:** Concentrate on terms linked to the structure or flow of a river.
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### Today’s *Connections* Categories
Need additional support? Here are today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Words That Resemble “T”
– **Green:** Items With Teeth
– **Blue:** Soft Exclamations
– **Purple:** Components of a River
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### Today’s *Connections* Solution
Prepared for the answers? This is your final opportunity to solve the puzzle before we disclose the solution. Drumroll, please!
Here’s the solution to today’s *Connections* #550:
– **Words That Resemble “T”:** TEA, TEE (GOLF), TI (MUSICAL NOTE)
– **Items With Teeth:** COMB, GEAR, SAW, ZIPPER
– **Soft Exclamations:** FUDGE, GEEZ, NUTS, RATS
– **Components of a River:** BANK, BED, DELTA, MOUTH
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If you weren’t able to solve it this time—don’t fret! There’s always tomorrow’s puzzle waiting for you! We’ll return with more hints and solutions to assist you in conquering the next challenge.
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### Seeking More Puzzles?
If you enjoy word games, take a look at *The New York Times*’ other selections, including *Wordle* and *The Mini Crossword*. You can also visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Here’s the solution.](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-sports-edition-hint-answer-today-december-12)
Enjoy puzzling!