Need help with the Tuesday, January 28, 2025, NYT Connections puzzle (#597)? Start with the graduated hints below, then continue past the spoiler break for the category names and complete four-word answer key.
Hints for Connections #597
Try each clue before revealing the next level. The puzzle has four groups of four words.
Yellow group
Think of someone or something that makes people smile.
Green group
These items are associated with exercises that build strength and endurance.
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Blue group
The words relate to popular sweets, but each one is missing something.
Purple group
Each word can follow a common five-letter noun describing how fast something is moving. “Racer” and “dating” point toward the phrase pattern.
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Spoiler break: the answers
Stop here if you still want to solve the grid yourself.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Funny person | CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH |
| Green | Resistance-training equipment | BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT |
| Blue | Candy bars minus “S” | AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER |
| Purple | SPEED ___ | BUMP, CHESS, DEMON, DIAL |
Why each group works
Funny person
CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER and LAUGH can all describe a funny person or a source of humor. “Card” is an older usage, while “a laugh” can sound less familiar depending on regional usage.
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BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL and MAT are all equipment used in strength or resistance workouts.
Candy bars minus “S”
Add an S to each entry and the candy names appear: Airheads, Mars, Mounds and Snickers.
SPEED ___
The remaining words complete familiar phrases: speed bump, speed chess, speed demon and speed dial.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The puzzle’s main misdirection
SNICKER can suggest LAUGH because both relate to amusement, making that pairing tempting before the missing-letter candy pattern becomes clear. Forbes contributor Kris Holt described that as part of his own solving experience; it is not an official NYT explanation.
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Parade, Forbes and WordHint identify this as Connections puzzle #597 for Tuesday, January 28, 2025, and agree on all four groups above. The date matters because other January 28 editions belong to different years.
Quick Recap
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