Mastering the New York Times Connections Puzzle: Hints and Answers for March 23, 2025

If you’re a fan of word games, you’ve likely heard of Connections, the New York Times’ latest puzzle sensation. This addictive game challenges players to group 16 words into four categories based on shared themes, testing both creativity and logic. On March 23, 2025, the puzzle offered a fresh set of challenges, and we’re here to break it down for you—hints, answers, and all.

What is Connections?
Connections is a daily word game that has quickly become a social media favorite, much like its cousin, Wordle. Created by Wyna Liu, an associate puzzle editor at the New York Times, the game resets every day with a new set of 16 words. Players must group these words into four categories, each color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest). With only four mistakes allowed, the game is as thrilling as it is challenging.

The March 23, 2025 Puzzle Breakdown
The puzzle for March 23, 2025, featured a mix of straightforward and tricky categories. Here’s a closer look at the hints and answers:

Yellow Category: Captivate
The easiest category, marked in yellow, revolved around words that mean “to fascinate someone.” The correct grouping included absorb, entrance, grab, and rivet. These words all share the common theme of capturing attention, making this category a great starting point for players.

Green Category: Things with Wings
Next up was the green category, which required players to think about objects or beings that have wings. The words airplane, fairy, fly, and hospital fit the bill. While hospital might have thrown some players off, the connection lies in the term “hospital wing,” showcasing the game’s clever wordplay.

Blue Category: Words That Modify “Watch”
The blue category was a bit more challenging, asking players to identify adjectives that describe a timepiece. The correct answers were pocket, smart, stop, and wrist. These words modify “watch” to form common phrases like pocket watch or smartwatch, highlighting the game’s knack for blending everyday language with puzzle-solving.

Purple Category: Words Repeated in “Miss Mary Mack”
The hardest category, marked in purple, was a nostalgic nod to the popular children’s handgame “Miss Mary Mack.” The words back, black, buttons, and Mack are all repeated throughout the rhyme, making this category a fun throwback for players who grew up with the song.

Why Connections is a Hit
Wyna Liu, the creative mind behind Connections, has crafted a game that’s both challenging and rewarding. Its daily reset and progressive difficulty levels keep players coming back for more. Plus, the ability to share results on social media adds a competitive edge, much like Wordle.

Beyond Connections
If you’re hooked on Connections, you’ll be happy to know that the New York Times Games section offers plenty of other brain-teasers, including Sudoku, Mahjong, and free crosswords. For those looking to expand their puzzle repertoire, Mashable’s games hub is also a great resource.

Final Thoughts
The March 23, 2025, Connections puzzle was a perfect blend of nostalgia, wordplay, and logic. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, the satisfaction of cracking each category is unmatched. So, grab your thinking cap and dive into the next puzzle—you might just find yourself captivated by the challenge.

Happy puzzling!