NYT Connections puzzle #664 for April 5, 2025 is live, and this Saturday’s grid presents a deceptively tricky challenge—especially in the purple category, where words contain hidden medieval weapons. If you’re stuck, we’ve got hints for every difficulty level and the full solutions below.
Key Takeaways
- Yellow category: CONTRACT, ENGAGE, RETAIN, SIGN—words meaning to employ or work with someone.
- Green category: BANNER, HEADER, MENU, SIDEBAR—all parts of a website or browsing interface.
- Blue category: BILLBOARD, PEOPLE, STAR, TIME—famous magazines and publications.
- Purple category: CROSSWORD, GRIMACE, RAINBOW, SEMBLANCE—words ending with medieval weapons like sword, mace, and bow.
- One solver managed the puzzle with two lives remaining, suggesting moderate difficulty.
Yellow Category Hints: Words That Mean to Employ
The yellow category tests your vocabulary for workplace relationships and hiring language. All four words relate to employment, recruitment, or keeping someone in a job. Think about what you do when you hire someone, what you do to keep them working for you, and what you might ask them to do when bringing them on board. These are straightforward synonyms for employment-related actions—no wordplay required.
Yellow solution: CONTRACT, ENGAGE, RETAIN, SIGN.
Green Category Hints: Parts of a Website
The green category shifts to internet terminology. All four words describe visual or functional elements you encounter while browsing a website or app. Think about the top of a page, the side of the screen, the list of options, and the promotional strip across the page. These are structural components every web user recognizes.
Green solution: BANNER, HEADER, MENU, SIDEBAR.
Blue Category Hints: Famous Magazines and Publications
The blue category moves into physical media and magazine titles. Each word is a well-known publication you’d find at a newsstand or subscribe to. One is a celebrity-focused magazine, one covers current events, one focuses on lifestyle, and one is a landmark publication known for its masthead. These are major titles in the publishing world.
Blue solution: BILLBOARD, PEOPLE, STAR, TIME.
Purple Category Hints: The Hidden Medieval Weapons Twist
The purple category is where today’s puzzle bites back. All four words contain or end with hidden medieval weapons—words like sword, mace, bow, and axe embedded within them. This wordplay category rewards players who think laterally about how words break apart. CROSSWORD contains SWORD, GRIMACE contains MACE, RAINBOW contains BOW, and SEMBLANCE contains… well, that one’s the trickiest.
Purple solution: CROSSWORD, GRIMACE, RAINBOW, SEMBLANCE.
How difficult is today’s NYT Connections puzzle?
Today’s puzzle ranks as moderately challenging. The yellow and green categories are straightforward vocabulary tests, but the blue category requires familiarity with magazine titles, and the purple category demands lateral thinking about hidden words. One solver completed it with two lives remaining, suggesting it’s solvable but not trivial.
What’s the strategy for solving hidden word categories?
When you spot a wordplay category like purple, start by writing out each word and looking for smaller words within them. Say the words aloud—sometimes the hidden word becomes obvious when spoken. Cross-check your guesses: if three words clearly share a pattern (like containing weapon names), the fourth should follow the same logic.
Are there other word puzzles like Connections?
Yes. The New York Times offers alternatives like Wordle and the classic Crossword, while other platforms provide games focused on vocabulary building and word association. If you enjoy Connections‘ category-based challenge, word games designed to improve your vocabulary offer similar mental engagement and daily replay value.
NYT Connections puzzle #664 rewards both straightforward vocabulary knowledge and creative wordplay thinking. The medieval weapons twist in the purple category is exactly the kind of lateral challenge that keeps the daily puzzle fresh. If you solved it, you’ve earned your streak for Saturday—if not, these hints should guide you to the solution quickly.
Where to Buy
21 Amazon customer reviews | $4.99 | $9.99 | $12.99
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: TechRadar
