If you are holding up a magnifying glass to try to solve today’sConnectionspuzzle Scooby-Doo style, then it is time to get a hint or two before you dive back in.Today there are a fair number of words that I think could go into multiple categories, and it was enough to nearly keep me from winning today, as I ended the puzzle with a “Phew” rating. However, I managed to get the win, and I am going to help you get the win as well with the following hints.
If you want to try out a puzzle that is both more challenging and a little more forgiving thanConnections, try playing theNYT’sLetter Boxedpuzzle. I find it more challenging thanConnections, as there is a bit more you have to keep in mind andthe rules are a little more complicated as well. However, it is more forgiving because you do not get any kind of limit on the number of guesses you have, except for the end-of-day limit. This makes it a fun puzzle to at least try, and you can always quit while you’re ahead.
Today’s Connections Category Hints
DECEMBER 09 #547
Today the real trick is just getting the words into the right places, as there are a lot of words that feel like they overlap.You will have to get very specific and look closely at the detailsto understand just how to separate some of these words out, but it is possible. To help you get those details down, here are four clues for you:
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If you still need some help with those pesky details,use the category names and then the spoilers belowto help you out:
SCRUTINY
THOUGHT
While not the first category I got today, I did get this one fairly fast. I thinkthis one was more straightforward than the others, but it was still difficult. SCRUTINY does sound like it could belong with some of the other words, and FACTOR is the most likely candidate for a red herring here. REFLECTION is also an interesting catch, as I thought about putting it in the green category, but luckily, I THOUGHT that these four words did belong together more than the others did. However, that just proves that today’s puzzle could be quite confusing.
MAGNIFYING GLASS
MATCHES
With most of these categories, it keeps getting a little more tricky. MAGNIFYING GLASS is a real contender that could throw of your game entirely. It can very easily swing between this category and the next, and if you don’t know that it can start a fire, you are going to be in trouble.Additionally, a light RAY can start a fire, and REFLECTION is what directs rays to make a fire. Figuring out how to separate these will take looking at all of the other words as well, which is how I narrowed this one down.
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SPECIMEN
STAIN
This could just be quite an extensive list of science-related items, in which the aforementioned MAGNIFYING GLASS as well as FILES could all be here. RAY is again a bit of a wild card. Additionally,STAIN feels less like it belongs than a lot of other words in the puzzle. These two categories are just a little too close for comfort, and the last category isn’t helpful with some of the words it uses either. It’s a tough puzzle day, but you can do it with a lot of deliberation.
GAMES
RAY
This one I actually got third, before the previous category. That is, in part, due to all of the reasons I already stated, but something clicked when I was trying to figure out which wordsdidn’tbelong in the previous category, andI realized there was a show called X-FILES. Once I did, it all fell into place for the rest of these words, and it made me breathe a deep sigh of relief.
Check out these puzzles for even morechallenging but funtimes.
Is It Free To Play?
Wordle(NYT)
Solve a random five-letter word by using color clues.EveryWordleanswercan be found in our daily updated list.
Yes
Hello Wordl
Very similar toWordle, where players change the number of letters in the word.
The Password Game
Create a password in this ever-changing, not-so-simple game. You can find somehelpful tips in ourPassword Gameguide.
Worldle
Name a country based only on its silhouette, and a few geographical hints.
