NYT Connections: hints and answers for Wednesday, July 17

Connections is the latest puzzle game from the New York Times. The game challenges players to categorize a pool of 16 words into four secret groups by identifying how the words relate to each other. The puzzle resets daily at midnight with varying levels of difficulty. Similar to Wordle, players can track their winning streak and compare scores with friends.

If you’re struggling with today’s Connections puzzle, check out our tips and hints below. And if you still can’t solve it, the answers are provided at the end.

How to play Connections

In Connections, players are presented with a grid of 16 words and must organize them into four sets of four by identifying the connections between them. These connections could be related to video game franchises, book series sequels, shades of red, chain restaurant names, etc.

While some words might fit multiple themes, there is only one correct answer. Players can shuffle the grid and rearrange the words to better visualize the potential connections.

Each group is color-coded – yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple groups.

Select four words and hit Submit. Correct guesses will remove the words from the grid and reveal the connecting theme. Incorrect guesses count as mistakes, and players have only four mistakes allowed before the game ends.

Hints for today’s Connections

We can aid in solving today’s Connections by providing the four themes. For additional help, one word from each group is also given below.

Today’s themes

• BUILDINGS AROUND TOWN
• HINDER
• ANIMAL GROUP NAMES
• STARTS OF U.S. PRESIDENTS

One-answer reveals

• BUILDINGS AROUND TOWN – BANK
• HINDER – CHECK
• ANIMAL GROUP NAMES – PACK
• STARTS OF U.S. PRESIDENTS – BIDE

Today’s Connections answers

If you’re still struggling, don’t worry. This puzzle is meant to be challenging. The answers for today’s Connections are provided below:

Connections grids vary daily, so if today’s puzzle stumps you, try again tomorrow.