Introduction
Every morning a growing number of puzzle fans wake up with the same thought What today Connections answer Whether your sipping coffee or just taking a short break from work the New York Times Connections puzzle offers the perfect dose of intellectual stimulation.
Un like crosswords or Wordle which rely heavily on vocabulary or definitions Connections makes you think in themes. Its about patterns. About how words relate in unexpected ways. About catching subtle ideas hiding in plain sight.
The July 13 puzzle is a fun blend of clear categories and deceptive traps. If you stuck or just want to double-check your solution your find everything you need here from spoiler-free hints to the full word group breakdown. Lets digital.
What Is the NYT Connections Puzzle and Why Is It So Popular
Connections is a daily word game launched by The New York Times. It offers a refreshing twist on classic logic games. Instead of defining words this asked to sort 16 words into 4 distinct groups of 4 words each based on something they have in common.
What kind of connections? That real question. They might be:
- Synonyms
- Types of animals
- Tools
- Musical instruments
- Cards
- Or even subtle puns
The game is as much about pattern recognition as it is about language. Sometimes the connections are concrete types of birds and sometimes they abstract things that go.
Add to that the limited number of guesses your allowed just four mistakes and the stakes start to feel real. It easy to see why nytimes connections has turned into a daily ritual for many.
Game Structure: How Connections Works
Here a breakdown of the game format:
Goal: Create four groups of four connected words
- Number of Mistakes Allowed: 4
- Color coded Difficulty:
- Yellow: Easiest group usually obvious
- Green: Logical and solvable
- Blue: Abstract or tricky
- Purple: The hardest and most deceptive
Players start with all 16 words jumbled on the screen. Drag and group four words you think are connected. If right the group locks in and disappears. the game tells you how many of the four were correct and that where the real strategy begins.
- Today Puzzle Words july 13
- Lets take a look at today 16 words:
- SWING CRANE CARDINAL EAGLE
- FIVE TEN JACK KING
- VIOLIN TRUMPET TUBA FLUTE
- WOOD BRICK STEEL CONCRETE
At first glance several themes jump out. Some of these are clearly musical instruments. Others look like building materials. But not everything is obvious as it seems and some word are deliberately misleading.
Before moving on take a moment to try solve the puzzle yourself.
Hints for Solving July 13 Connections (No Spoilers If still working on the puzzle and want the full solution just here are a few hints to nudge you in the right direction.
Yellow Group Hint:
All four items are commonly played in a band or orchestra.
Green Group Hint:
These are used in constructing buildings.
Blue Group Hint:
At least three of these are birds the fourth one might surprise you.
Purple Group Hint:
These come from a standard deck of cards.
Use these cues to re-group the words. Trust your intuition but stay alert the NYT loves throwing in double-meaning traps
July 13 Connections Answer: Full Group Breakdown
Lets break down the solution by category.
Yellow Group: Musical Instruments
- VIOLIN
- TRUMPET
- TUBA
- FLUTE
This was likely the easiest group of the day. All four are standard instruments found in orchestras and school bands.
Green Group: Construction Materials
- WOOD
- BRICK
- STEEL
- CONCRETE
Straightforward and sensible. These materials form the backbone of construction. Its Clean logical group.
Blue Group: Birds or Movement
- CRANE
- EAGLE
- CARDINAL
- SWING
Now things get tricky. While the first three are clearly birds seems odd at first. But if you think metaphorically or in terms of movement it fits. Some players also associate with bird-related actions or golf terminology.
Purple Group: Playing Cards
- FIVE
- TEN
- JACK
- KING
This group covers both number and face cards. Many solvers might mi group JACK or KING into royalty or names but when seen together the pattern is crystal clear.
How did you do
If you nailed all four groups with minimal mistakes congrats probably developing a sharp puzzle-solving instinct.
Top 5 Tips for Solve Future Connections Puzzles
Want to get better at solve these each day Here are five tried-and-true techniques used by expert solvers:
1. Spot Obvious Themes First
Words like VIOLIN or JACK usually scream a category. Identify easy sets to reduce the pool of confusion.
2. Double Check Ambiguous Words
Words like SWING or JACK can belong to more than one category. Always check their context.
3. Make Logical Guesses Early
You get four chances. Use one or two to test uncertain combinations. Even a wrong guess gives clues.
4. Think Culturally
The NYT loves themes rooted in pop culture history music or idioms. Think beyond dictionaries.
5. Play Daily
The more you play the better your brain becomes at spotting patterns and thematic associations.
Why the NYT Connections Game Is So Addictive
There something magical about solving a puzzle that feels like just hard enough. The connections answer always obvious but usually fair. The balance between challenge and satisfaction keeps players returning every day.
Its also social many players share their results on social media discuss patterns with friends or quietly race their partners over breakfast. Unlike many games only one puzzle a day. That means everyone on the same page literally.
What Makes a Tricky Connections Puzzle
The toughest puzzles usually include:
Double-meaning words (like JACK or CRANE)
Unusual categories (like Things that bounce Sounds made by animals Pop culture references from TV books or slang. The NYT puzzle editors are masters of playful misdirection. why reading the full grid carefully and not jumping to conclusions is essential.
Conclusion
July 13 puzzle was a classic example of what makes the NYTimes Connections game great. It had: One easy group (instruments) One logical set (construction) One misdirect (birds + swing) One clever finish (cards)
If you solved it cleanly well done! If not okay too. The beauty of this game is that always tomorrow and every new puzzle is a fresh start. So whether here to confirm your own connections hint or you just wanted some help we hope this guide brought clarity and confidence to your puzzle-solving session.
FAQs
1. Whats is the NYT Connections puzzle
The NYT Connections puzzle is a daily word games where player must group 16 words into four categories based on a common connection or themes.
2. When does not the NYT Connections puzzle resets.
The Connections puzzle resets every days the midnight local time giving players a new challenge every 24 hours.
3. How are the word groups in Connections categorized
Each set of four words belongs to a specific such as animal instruments or types of food. The games user color coded difficulty level Yellow easiest Green Blue and Purple hardest.
4. How many mistakes can I makes in Connections
Players are allowed up to four incorrect attempts. After the game ends and the correct answers are revealed.
5. Can I play past NYT Connections puzzles
Currently there is no official archive within the game to replay older puzzles but some third-party sites and blogs maintain daily archives and solutions.
