Stuck on the NYT Connections hints April 4 puzzle? You aren’t alone. Today’s board features a tricky mix of vocabulary that ranges from simple travel terms to some devious wordplay involving brand names. Whether you are playing the daily challenge or working through the New York Times archive, we have the clues you need to keep your streak alive.
Below, you’ll find spoiler-free hints, definitions for the trickier words, and finally, the complete answer key for the April 4 puzzle (Puzzle #663).
Table of Contents
How to Play NYT Connections?
If you are new to the game, the goal is simple but challenging:
- Sort 16 words into four groups of four.
- Each group shares a common theme (e.g., “Types of Fruit” or “Words Ending in X”).
- Yellow groups are generally the easiest, followed by Green, Blue, and Purple (the hardest).
- You have four mistakes allowed before the game ends.
General Hints for April 4 (Spoiler-Free)
Before we reveal the specific categories, here are a few gentle nudges to help you spot the patterns yourself:
- Check for Baseball Terms: Do you see words that might describe where a sport is played?
- Think about “Remainders”: Several words imply something being left behind or stayed.
- Look for Proper Nouns hidden in lowercase: Sometimes a word like “Bay” or “Ink” isn’t just a noun it might be part of a company name.
- Travel Vibes: There is a distinct set of verbs related to moving in a vehicle.
Category Clues for April 4
If the general hints weren’t enough, here are the themes for each color-coded group. Try to match your words to these categories:
- Yellow Group Hint: Mathematical terms or concepts related to what is left over.
- Green Group Hint: Verbs you would use when taking a car for a spin.
- Blue Group Hint: Specific locations where you watch innings and home runs.
- Purple Group Hint: Famous corporate brands, but with a specific letter missing.
Tricky Words Defined
- Spin: In this context, think less about “twirling” and more about a short drive.
- Diamond: While often a gem, it has a specific geometric meaning in sports.
- Ink: Don’t think of pens; think of a missing letter from a larger word.
NYT Connections Answers April 4 (Puzzle #663)
Warning: Spoilers Below! If you are ready to see the solution, here are the four groups and the words that belong to them.
Yellow Group: What’s Leftover
- BALANCE
- DIFFERENCE
- REMAINDER
- REST
Analysis: This was the “easiest” group, relying on synonyms for things that remain. “Difference” and “Remainder” are strong math signals, while “Balance” (as in a bank account) fits naturally.
Green Group: Car Trip
- CRUISE
- DRIVE
- RIDE
- SPIN
Analysis: A straightforward category of verbs. The red herring here might have been “Spin,” which can also mean rotating, but in the context of “taking a spin,” it fits perfectly with driving.
Blue Group: Baseball Venues
- DIAMOND
- FIELD
- PARK
- STADIUM
Analysis: This group required specific sports knowledge. “Diamond” is the giveaway here. You might have been tempted to group “Park” with “Drive” (as in distinct gears), but the baseball connection is stronger.
Purple Group: Companies with “E” Removed
- BAY (eBay)
- HARMONY (eHarmony)
- INK (E Ink)
- TRADE (E-Trade)
Analysis: As usual, the Purple group relies on wordplay rather than definition. You had to mentally add an “E” to the front of each word to see the brand names. “Ink” was the trickiest component here, as E Ink is a more niche technology brand compared to eBay or E-Trade.
Hints for the April 4 Archive (2024)
If you are playing the older archive puzzle from April 4, 2024 (Puzzle #298), the answers are different. Here is a quick cheat sheet for that specific past date:
- Yellow: Ways to Prepare Eggs (Boil, Fry, Poach, Scramble)
- Green: Exhilaration (Buzz, Kick, Rush, Thrill)
- Blue: Thrown in Target Games (Axe, Dart, Horseshoe, Ring)
- Purple: ____ Wrap (Body, Bubble, Gift, Shrink)
Tips for Solving Tomorrow’s Puzzle
To improve your strategy for future games, keep these semantic SEO tips in mind:
- Shuffle the Board: Often, the game places related words (like “Park” and “Drive”) next to each other to trick you. Shuffling breaks these false visual associations.
- Identify the “One-Away”: If you guess and get the “One Away” message, stop immediately. Look for a fifth word that might fit that category it’s usually the red herring that belongs to a different group (often Purple).
- Watch for “Blank” Categories: The Purple group frequently uses “Fill in the Blank” phrases. If you see words that don’t seem to relate by meaning (like “Body” and “Bubble” in the 2024 puzzle), try placing a word before or after them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the hardest group in NYT Connections?
The Purple group is consistently the hardest. It rarely relies on definitions (synonyms) and instead uses anagrams, palindromes, fill-in-the-blanks, or lateral thinking (like “Companies with ‘E’ removed”).
Does the order of words matter in Connections?
No. You can select the four words in any order. The only thing that matters is grouping the correct four words together.
When does the NYT Connections puzzle reset?
The new puzzle drops strictly at midnight local time for your device. If you want to play early, you can sometimes change your device’s time zone to New Zealand.
Is there a penalty for wrong guesses?
Yes. You have four “lives” (mistakes). If you make four incorrect guesses, the game ends and reveals the answers.
