The daily word puzzle from the New York Times, Connections, has a knack for being both delightfully challenging and incredibly frustrating. One moment you’re confidently grouping words, and the next, you’re staring at the grid, convinced no four words could possibly belong together. If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re in that second camp, desperately seeking a nudge for today’s puzzle – specifically, some Mashable-inspired guidance.
You’ve come to the right place! This guide is designed to help you conquer Connections puzzle #731 for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, providing gentle hints inspired by the kind of clues you’d find from top puzzle helpers like Mashable, along with the full solutions if you’re truly stumped.
Today’s Connections (June 11, 2025) – The Word Grid
Here are the 16 words waiting to be grouped in today’s NYT Connections puzzle:
- EYEBROW
- NUMBER
- RAINBOW
- ROOSTER
- LEPRECHAUN
- DAGGER
- COUNT
- CROW
- ASTERISK
- FLIGHT PATH
- STRUT
- BANANA
- SHOW OFF
- PARENS
- ELVES
- BLUSTER
Gentle Nudges: Mashable-Inspired Hints for Each Category
Before we reveal the answers, let’s give you some helpful nudges. Remember, the goal is to help you solve it, not just give you the answers outright. Try to use these hints to spot the connections yourself!
💛 Yellow Category (Easiest):
- Think of words that describe someone trying to make a big impression, or perhaps showing off a bit.
- Hint from Mashable’s style: “Words for ‘brag.'”
💚 Green Category (Medium):
- What everyday things do you know that have a curved or bowed shape? Consider natural phenomena or common objects.
- Hint from Mashable’s style: “Like a crescent moon or a boomerang.”
💙 Blue Category (Harder):
- Focus on characters you might see on breakfast tables, especially those associated with popular brands that appeal to children.
- Hint from Mashable’s style: “Common morning sights for kids (and plenty of adults).”
💜 Purple Category (Trickiest):
- This category often involves wordplay or more specific, sometimes technical, terms. Consider how you might indicate an additional note or reference in a written document.
- Hint from Mashable’s style: “If I could direct you to a footnote here without potentially spoiling this game, I would.”
General Tips for Connections Success:
- Look for Obvious First, Then Red Herrings: Sometimes a group will jump out, but beware of words that seem to fit multiple categories.
- Shuffle the Board: Don’t be afraid to rearrange the words. A new perspective can often reveal hidden links.
- Consider Multiple Meanings: Many words in Connections have more than one meaning. Think broadly!
- Take a Break: If you’re truly stuck, step away for a few minutes. Your brain might make the connection when you’re not actively staring at it.
SPOILER ALERT! Today’s Connections Answers (June 11, 2025)
Ready to see if your guesses were correct, or just need to put this puzzle to rest? Here are the full categories and words for Connections #731. Don’t scroll further if you want to keep trying!
[SPOILER WARNING – SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS]
Today’s Connections Categories and Words:
- 💛 BOAST: BLUSTER, CROW, SHOW OFF, STRUT
- Explanation: All these words are synonyms for bragging or acting conceited.
- 💚 ARC-SHAPED THINGS: BANANA, EYEBROW, FLIGHT PATH, RAINBOW
- Explanation: Each of these items or concepts naturally forms an arc or curve.
- 💙 CEREAL MASCOTS: COUNT, ELVES, LEPRECHAUN, ROOSTER
- Explanation: These are all mascots for famous breakfast cereals: Count Chocula, Rice Krispies Elves (Snap, Crackle, Pop), Lucky Charms Leprechaun, and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Rooster.
- 💜 WAYS TO DENOTE A CITATION: ASTERISK, DAGGER, NUMBER, PARENS
- Explanation: These are all symbols or methods used in writing to indicate a footnote, reference, or citation (e.g., an asterisk, a dagger symbol, a number, or parentheses for in-text citations).
Beyond Today: Keep Connecting!
Congratulations on tackling today’s Connections puzzle! Whether you solved it with a little help or needed the full reveal, the key is to keep those brain muscles working. The New York Times releases a new puzzle every day at midnight, so there’s always a fresh challenge waiting. Keep an eye on Mashable for their daily insights and hints to keep your streak going!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How often does the NYT Connections puzzle update?
The New York Times Connections puzzle updates daily at midnight local time.
Q2: What do the colors mean in Connections?
The colors indicate the difficulty of the categories. Yellow is the easiest, followed by Green (medium), Blue (hard), and Purple (trickiest, often involving wordplay or more obscure connections).
Q3: Can I play past Connections puzzles?
Yes, the New York Times Games website and app often allow you to access an archive of past puzzles.
Q4: Where else can I find hints for NYT Connections?
Besides Mashable, other reputable sites like TechRadar, Lifehacker, and Forbes often provide daily hints and answers for NYT Connections.
Q5: What is the objective of Connections?
The objective of Connections is to sort 16 seemingly random words into four groups of four, with each group sharing a specific, hidden connection or category. You have four mistakes before the game ends.
