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Hints for Connections #913
Try these clues in order from broadest to most specific:
- An exclamation such as “gosh.”
- Words for an imitation.
- Types of confection.
- Things the letter Y might stand for.
The first three groups are meaning-based, while the final group depends on how the letter Y is read or used in different contexts.
Answers and categories
| Color | Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | MY GOODNESS! | DEAR, GRACIOUS, HEAVENS, MERCY | Interjections or exclamations expressing surprise or emphasis. |
| Green | IMITATION | COPY, DUMMY, DUPE, FAKE | Each can describe something that is not the original. |
| Blue | CONFECTION | CANDY, LOLLY, SUCKER, SWEET | Each can refer to a sugary treat; “sweet” functions as a noun here. |
| Purple | WHAT “Y” MIGHT MEAN | WHY, YEAR, YELLOW, YES | Each starts with Y and represents a different way the letter can be named, expanded, or used. |
A practical solve path
1. Lock in IMITATION
The four words describing copies or stand-ins make the tightest semantic group, so they are a strong opening move.
#1 Best Overall
2. Spot the exclamations
With those removed, the interjections in MY GOODNESS! form a distinct reaction-language set.
3. Gather the sweets
The remaining food-related terms resolve CONFECTION. Treat “sweet” as a noun rather than an adjective.
4. Use the letter pattern for purple
The final four entries are not synonyms. They are linked by different interpretations of Y—its spoken name, an abbreviation, a color designation, and an affirmative shorthand—so this category is best left until the semantic groups are gone.
How difficult was this puzzle?
Tom’s Guide described #913 as easier than the previous day and reported a Connections Companion difficulty rating of 1.8 out of 5. That rating is a qualitative guide, not an official New York Times score.
Where to play
Connections is an NYT Games word puzzle playable in a desktop browser or on a mobile device. The board presents sixteen words; your goal is to divide them into four groups of four before making four mistakes.
Quick Recap
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