Connections is a daily word game from the New York Times that challenges players to find the hidden links between seemingly disparate words. Each puzzle presents 16 words, and the goal is to group them into four sets of four, where each set shares a common theme or association. If you’re struggling with today’s Connections puzzle for July 16, 2025, fear not! We’ve compiled hints, clues, and even the solution to help you master the game.
What Makes Connections So Addictive?
The brilliance of Connections lies in its deceptive simplicity. While the rules are straightforward, identifying the connections can be surprisingly tricky. The game requires a blend of vocabulary, lateral thinking, and pattern recognition. It’s a great mental workout that keeps players coming back for more. The NYT’s Wyna Liu is credited with developing this engaging word game.
How to Play Connections
1. The Grid: You’ll see a 4×4 grid of 16 words.
2. Find the Connections: Identify four words that share a common theme or category.
3. Make Your Selection: Select the four words you believe belong together.
4. Submit Your Guess: Submit your selection. If correct, the words disappear from the grid.
5. Four Mistakes Allowed: You have four attempts to solve the entire puzzle. After four incorrect guesses, the game ends.
6. Color Coding: Categories are ranked by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).
Tips and Strategies for Success
Shuffle the Board: Use the shuffle button to rearrange the words and gain a fresh perspective. This can help you spot hidden relationships.
Look for Obvious Connections First: Start by identifying the easiest categories (usually the yellow ones).
Consider Multiple Meanings: Some words have multiple meanings, so think about all the possibilities.
Don’t Be Afraid to Guess: If you’re stuck, sometimes a guess can help you eliminate possibilities or spark a new idea.
Think Outside the Box: Connections often requires creative thinking, so don’t be afraid to look for less obvious links between words.
Today’s Connections Hints (July 16, 2025)
Need a nudge in the right direction? Here are some general hints for today’s categories:
Yellow: Think academic locations.
Green: Performance style.
Blue: Act of limiting.
Purple: Greek alphabet beginnings.
Spoiler Alert: Today’s Categories Revealed
For those who want a more specific hint, here are the categories for today’s Connections puzzle:
Yellow: Parts of a college campus
Green: Exaggerated, as a performance
Blue: Close in on
Purple: Starts of Greek letters
The Solution to Connections 766 (July 16, 2025)
Ready to see the answers? Here’s the solution to today’s NYT Connections puzzle:
Parts of a college campus: CAFETERIA, DORM, LIBRARY, QUAD
Exaggerated, as a performance: CAMP, DRAMATIC, HAMMY, OVERDONE
Close in on: CORNER, SURROUND, TRAP, TREE
Starts of Greek letters: BET, DELT, LAMB, THE
Don’t worry if you didn’t solve it this time! There’s always another Connections puzzle waiting for you tomorrow. Keep practicing your word association skills, and you’ll be a Connections master in no time. If you enjoy word games, be sure to check out other NYT offerings like Wordle and the Mini crossword.
