Connections #636, released March 8, 2025, groups its 16 words around faux things, washing-machine settings, Bill and Ted catchphrases, and words ending in “box.” Start with the hints below if you want to solve it yourself; the full categories and tile groupings follow.
Hints for Connections #636
- Yellow: These words describe something that is not genuine.
- Green: Look for laundry-related cycles or settings.
- Blue: These are familiar words from the Bill and Ted movies.
- Purple: Each word can come immediately before “box.”
Connections #636 category answers
- Yellow — FAUX: A category for things that are artificial or imitation.
- Green — Washing machine cycles/settings: Laundry terms, including fabric types and a cycle.
- Blue — Words said frequently in the Bill and Ted movies: Catchphrases and expressions associated with the films.
- Purple — ___BOX: Each tile forms a word when followed by “box.”
All Connections #636 words, grouped
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| FAUX | ARTIFICIAL, FAKE, IMITATION, MOCK |
| Washing machine cycles/settings | BULKY, COTTON, DELICATE, SPIN |
| Bill and Ted catchphrases | BOGUS, DUDE, EXCELLENT, TOTALLY |
| ___BOX | CHATTER, JUKE, SHADOW, SOAP |
Why the groups fit
FAUX
ARTIFICIAL, FAKE, IMITATION, and MOCK all point to something that is not genuine. Some words can also suggest casual speech or broader ideas, which can make this cluster less obvious at first.
Washing machine cycles/settings
BULKY, COTTON, DELICATE, and SPIN are washer cycle or setting labels. The set mixes fabric or load types with a machine action.
Bill and Ted catchphrases
BOGUS, DUDE, EXCELLENT, and TOTALLY are words associated with the Bill and Ted films. Their conversational feel can create tempting overlaps with other word associations.
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___BOX
Add “box” after each tile to get CHATTERBOX, JUKEBOX, SHADOWBOX, and SOAPBOX.
How Connections works
Connections presents 16 words and asks players to sort them into four groups of four. Each group has a color, from yellow for the easiest to purple for the trickiest. The New York Times Help Center notes that words may appear to fit multiple categories, although each puzzle has one intended solution: Connections help and rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Playing the March 8, 2025 puzzle
The official game releases a new puzzle at midnight in each player’s timezone and is free to play across platforms, according to the New York Times Help Center. The Help Center says the archive goes back to June 12, 2023, with archived puzzles available to All Access and Games subscribers; archived play affects some stats but not streaks. Subscription benefits can change, so check the current help page for access terms.
Quick Recap
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Rank #3
- Two teams race to identify their agents from a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows each card’s identity
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