Cracking the Code: NYT Connections Hints and Answers for April 20, 2025
If you enjoy word puzzles, chances are you’ve tried Connections, the New York Times’ popular game that challenges players to uncover hidden links between 16 words. Today, we’re exploring the hints and answers for April 20, 2025 (Puzzle #679), helping you sharpen your skills or get unstuck if you’re feeling stuck.
What Is NYT Connections?
Created by Wyna Liu, an associate puzzle editor at the NYT, Connections is all about spotting subtle threads that tie words together. The game resets daily at midnight, offering fresh challenges that increase in difficulty. Players group words into four color-coded categories—yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest)—with only four mistakes allowed. You can shuffle words to spot patterns, making it a mix of strategy and vocabulary skills.
Today’s Puzzle Breakdown
Let’s dive into the categories and themes for April 20, 2025:
Yellow: Glimpse
Words like Gander, Glance, Look, and Peep share a simple theme—they all mean “to catch sight of.” This category serves as a gentle warm-up to get your brain working.
Green: Needs for Tie-Dyeing a Shirt
If you’ve ever tried DIY tie-dye, this category will feel familiar. Basin, Dye, Rubber Bands, and Shirt are the essentials for creating those colorful, swirly designs.
Blue: Things You Can Crack
This one is more abstract. Code, Egg, Joke, and Whip all fit under actions or objects you can “crack”—whether it’s solving a puzzle, breaking an eggshell, or cracking a joke.
Purple: Words Before “Hop”
The trickiest category of the day. Bar, Bunny, Hip, and Sock all precede “Hop” in common phrases—think “Bunny Hop” or “Sock Hop.” It’s a clever nod to pop culture and language quirks.
Why Players Love Connections
Part of what makes Connections so engaging is its blend of simplicity and depth. Unlike Wordle, which tests guessing skills, Connections rewards lateral thinking. As Wyna Liu once shared in an interview, the game is designed to “make players see familiar words in new ways,” sparking those satisfying “aha!” moments.
Tips for Mastering the Game
If you’re new to Connections, here’s a pro tip: take your time. Rearrange the words to spot hidden patterns, and save the trickiest groupings for last. And if you’re stuck, today’s answers are here to help.
Join the Puzzle Community
Like Wordle, Connections has become a social media sensation, with players sharing their results and competing for bragging rights. Ready to test your skills? Play today’s puzzle on the NYT Games website and see how you stack up.
Whether you’re a casual player or a puzzle pro, Connections offers a fresh, fun challenge every day. Happy solving!
