NYT Connections: Sunday’s NYT Connections puzzle (#735) once again challenged word game lovers across the U.S., combining pop culture, humor, and language into a brain-twisting set of categories. If you’re among the many fans who play daily to keep their streak alive, here’s a helpful guide to solving today’s grid—including strategic hints and full answers.
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections, one of The New York Times’ most viral word games after Wordle, presents players with a 4×4 grid of 16 words. The challenge? Sort them into four connected groups of four words each. The twist is that connections can range from slang and synonyms to pop culture references and abstract wordplay—making the game feel fresh every day.
Each group is color-coded by difficulty:
- 🟨 Yellow – Easiest
- 🟩 Green – Moderate
- 🟦 Blue – Challenging
- 🟪 Purple – Trickiest
June 15 Puzzle Hints (Puzzle #735):
🟨 Yellow (Easy): Think of different slang terms people use for coffee.
🟩 Green (Moderate): Family-friendly words you might shout when things go wrong.
🟦 Blue (Hard): These relate to the criteria used when deciding a movie’s age rating.
🟪 Purple (Trickiest): All of these words can be linked to the word “pop.”
Full Answers for June 15, 2025 (Spoilers Below):
🟨 SLANG FOR COFFEE:
- Brew
- Java
- Mud
- Rocket Fuel
🟩 “AW, HECK!” SUBSTITUTES:
🟦 MOVIE RATING CONSIDERATIONS:
- Action
- Language
- Nudity
- Smoking
🟪 WHAT “POP” CAN MEAN:
- Burst
- Father
- Popular
- Soda
Game Insight
While many players easily spotted the coffee slang in the Yellow group, others got stuck on the trickier Purple set. Understanding that “pop” can mean both a fizzy drink and a dad helped connect the dots. Movie buffs also had an easier time with the Blue group, as terms like Nudity and Language clearly tied to film ratings.
Sunday’s puzzle was rated as medium difficulty (3 out of 5), but players who leaned on pop culture knowledge and lateral thinking found success.