Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.
What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #582) – today’s words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
BANKPARKBOOKSTORERESERVETRAINSCHOOLPOOLEARTHSIGNALINCHCOACHTURNGLOWGUIDEBRAKE
NYT Connections today (game #582) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: LearnGREEN: Collection of items BLUE: Take the wheel PURPLE: Wriggly creatures
Need more clues?
We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #582) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: TEACH GREEN: CACHE BLUE: DRIVING INSTRUCTOR DIRECTIVES PURPLE: WORM
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #582) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Connections, game #582, are…
YELLOW: TEACH COACH, GUIDE, SCHOOL, TRAINGREEN: CACHE BANK, POOL, RESERVE, STOREBLUE: DRIVING INSTRUCTOR DIRECTIVES BRAKE, PARK, SIGNAL, TURNPURPLE: WORM BOOK, EARTH, GLOW, INCH
My rating: EasyMy score: 1 mistake
In the list of DRIVING INSTRUCTOR DIRECTIVES the one I heard the most during my lessons was BRAKE. I was so bad at driving that my first instructor refused to take me out after my second lesson – I hit a police car in stationary traffic. The police officers thought it was hilarious, the instructor less so.
When I eventually came to take my first test I failed after 10 seconds, after managing not to SIGNAL and then making a TURN in the wrong direction and directly into oncoming vehicles.
I should add that during this period I also crashed my father’s car into a rock and then a tree.
Fortunately, after a 10-year break it all clicked and I sailed through my second test. I’ve even thought about becoming a driving instructor myself, but then I realised I’d have to teach people like I was at 17.
Anyway, a lovely Connections today. Certainly less stressful than a driving lesson.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 12 January, game #581)
YELLOW: FABRICATION FAIRY TALE, FANTASY, FICTION, INVENTIONGREEN: WOO CHARM, COURT, PURSUE, ROMANCEBLUE: CLASSIC ATARI GAMES ASTEROIDS, BREAKOUT, CENTIPEDE, DEFENDERPURPLE: THINGS FEATURING TAILS COIN TOSS, COMETS, DRESS COAT, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.