NYT Connections Answers and Hints – January 25

The New York Times’ Connections puzzle continues to engage players with its creative and thought-provoking challenges. Today’s puzzle, #594, is no exception, featuring cleverly linked words that test players’ ability to find connections among seemingly unrelated terms. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle or just looking for hints before revealing the answers, this article breaks down the categories, provides guidance on solving, and ultimately shares today’s solution.


Understanding the Puzzle

The Connections puzzle challenges players to group 16 words into four distinct categories of four words each. While some connections are straightforward, others require a deeper understanding of themes, word origins, or linguistic nuances. The game also includes a “Herring Watch,” warning players about red herrings—words that appear related to a category but belong elsewhere, often misleading participants.

Today’s puzzle brings an interesting mix of themes, ranging from school days to words derived from Japanese. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each category and the strategies that can help you solve the puzzle.


Hints and Analysis for Each Category

Yellow Category: Relating to School Days

This category revolves around activities, periods, or parts of a typical school day. Words that fit this theme often evoke memories of childhood routines or education-related terms. Consider words that are part of a school schedule or activities students participate in during the day.

Hint: Think of specific periods or breaks during the school day. Words like “class” and “recess” might immediately come to mind.

Red Herrings: Be cautious about words like “lift” or “lodge,” which might seem related to school in a broader sense but belong to a different category.


Green Category: Associated with Ski Resorts

This category focuses on words commonly linked to skiing or ski resorts. These could include physical features of a ski resort, equipment, or activities associated with the sport. Skiing is often considered a pastime for the wealthy, so this theme aligns with its reputation as a luxury activity.

Hint: Visualize a ski resort and think about what you’d see there—structures, terrain, or key elements of the skiing experience. Words like “slope” and “lodge” are integral to this theme.

Red Herrings: Words such as “mogul” may seem unrelated at first glance due to their alternate meanings. However, they fit perfectly within this category.


Blue Category: Words Derived from Japanese

The blue category features words with a common linguistic origin—Japanese. These words have been borrowed into English, often retaining their cultural or contextual significance. This category is a linguistic challenge that requires recognizing loanwords from Japanese.

Hint: Think about widely used English words that have distinctly Japanese origins, particularly in cultural, culinary, or technological contexts. Words like “emoji” and “karaoke” are good examples.

Red Herrings: Be wary of grouping words with vague cultural connotations, such as “tycoon,” which might not immediately seem Japanese-derived.


Purple Category: Words After the Prefix “Tri-“

This category centers on words that can be modified with the Latin prefix “tri-” (meaning “three”). These words often represent concepts or objects associated with the number three.

Hint: Focus on words that change meaning when paired with “tri-.” For instance, “cycle” becomes “tricycle,” and “angle” becomes “triangle.”

Red Herrings: Words like “tycoon” or “emoji” may appear related if you overthink their structure, but they do not fit this linguistic connection.


Strategies for Solving Today’s Puzzle

  1. Start with Obvious Connections:
    Look for words that immediately stand out as part of a group. For example, “class” and “recess” are easily linked to school days, while “lodge” and “slope” evoke images of a ski resort.
  2. Use the Process of Elimination:
    Once you’ve identified certain categories, eliminate those words from the remaining pool. This helps narrow down potential groupings.
  3. Pay Attention to Herring Watch:
    Red herrings can be tricky, as they are deliberately included to mislead. In today’s puzzle, words like “mogul” and “tycoon” could easily distract players if not placed in their proper context.
  4. Think Beyond Literal Meanings:
    Some words may have multiple interpretations. For instance, “mogul” can refer to both a wealthy individual and a feature of a ski slope. Choose the meaning that fits the category.
  5. Revisit Unsolved Groups:
    If you’re stuck, revisit the remaining words and consider alternative connections. Often, the final groupings become clearer as other categories fall into place.

Today’s Hints Recap

  • Yellow: Related to school days and activities.
  • Green: Associated with ski resorts and features.
  • Blue: Words borrowed from Japanese.
  • Purple: Words that can be modified with the prefix “tri-.”

NYT Connections Answers – January 25, 2025

After analyzing the clues and considering the hints, here are today’s answers:

Yellow Category: School Periods

  • Class
  • Homeroom
  • Lunch
  • Recess

These words represent distinct parts of a school day, evoking memories of classroom learning and childhood breaks.

Green Category: Features of a Ski Resort

  • Lift
  • Lodge
  • Mogul
  • Slope

This category captures the essential elements of a ski resort, from the terrain to the infrastructure that facilitates skiing.

Blue Category: Words Derived from Japanese

  • Emoji
  • Ginkgo
  • Karaoke
  • Tycoon

These words highlight the influence of Japanese language and culture on English, spanning technology, nature, and entertainment.

Purple Category: Words After the Prefix “Tri-“

  • Angle
  • Cycle
  • Dent
  • Pod

Adding the prefix “tri-” transforms these words into concepts involving three, such as “triangle,” “tricycle,” “trident,” and “tripod.”


Final Thoughts

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle offered a mix of straightforward and challenging connections, requiring players to think critically and creatively. By breaking down the categories and analyzing the hints, players can better appreciate the intricacies of this brain-teasing game.

Whether you solved the puzzle independently or needed some assistance, the key takeaway is the fun and learning that Connections provides. Stay tuned for more daily puzzles and continue sharpening your linguistic and problem-solving skills!

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