NYT Connections: Common Traps and Red Herrings to Watch Out For
Puzzle editor Wyna Liu has said outright that she designs each Connections grid with specific traps in mind — words that seem obviously grouped together but are actually split across different categories. Understanding the most common types of misdirection is as important as knowing the categories themselves. If a grouping feels too obvious, that's often your first warning sign.
The 'Five Words for One Category' Trap
One of the most consistent traps in Connections is the deliberate placement of five words that could all plausibly fit a single theme — when in fact only four of them belong there. If you look at the board and think 'COBRA, PYTHON, BOA, VIPER, and SIDEWINDER are all snakes,' that extra snake is planted on purpose. One of those five words belongs to a completely different category (PYTHON might be in a programming languages group; VIPER might be in a car models group). The rule: never submit a group until you can articulate exactly why the fifth candidate does not belong. If you can't eliminate the extra word, solve a different group first to remove it from the board.
Words with Multiple Meanings Are Planted to Confuse
Connections exploits polysemous words — words with multiple common meanings — as weapons against solvers. BASS is a fish and a musical term. MARS is a planet and a candy bar. TURKEY is a bird, a country, and a bowling term. These words are placed precisely because your first instinct will assign them to the obvious category, when the puzzle actually needs them in a completely different one. Whenever you see a word with two or more strong common meanings, consciously consider both (or all) meanings before anchoring it to any group.
The Thematic Cluster That Isn't a Category
Some of the most damaging red herrings in Connections involve cultural or geographical clusters that feel like a coherent group but are simply a coincidence the editor exploited. In a June 2026 puzzle, four words — TEA PARTY, MASSACHUSETTS, CREAM PIE, and GLOBE — could all plausibly be grouped around 'Boston.' The trap was engineered deliberately: that group does not exist in the puzzle, and assuming it does will burn a mistake and send you down a wrong path that leaves your remaining words in chaos. Before submitting any culturally themed group, ask: 'Could these four words each also belong to an entirely different category that has nothing to do with this theme?'
The Starting Grid Is Deliberately Arranged to Mislead
The 4×4 initial layout of words is not random. Words that appear next to each other or in the same row are sometimes placed there to suggest a false grouping. The visual proximity creates an impression of connection that doesn't exist. This is exactly why using the Shuffle button is sound strategy, not just a last resort — it disrupts the visual anchoring the layout was designed to create. Players who never shuffle are leaving themselves vulnerable to a trap that is built into the UI itself.
Obvious Group Names That Contain a Ringer
A classic Connections trap involves a category label like 'Things in a Kitchen' or 'Types of Music' where three words are clear members and a fourth word only belongs in that category under a secondary, less obvious meaning. The ringer is the word that seems to fit perfectly but actually belongs to a completely different group. To catch ringers, after you've identified what looks like a solid group of four, test each word individually: 'If I removed this word, would the other three still feel like a complete group?' The word where you answer 'yes, actually they'd be fine without it' is probably the ringer — it belongs elsewhere.
FAQ
Is misdirection in Connections intentional or accidental?
Entirely intentional. Wyna Liu, the puzzle editor, has been explicit that she constructs each grid with specific misleading clusters in mind — particularly the 'too many words fit this category' trap. The misdirection is a design feature, not a side effect.
How do I avoid falling for the five-words-in-one-category trap?
When you spot more than four words that could fit a theme, treat it as a red flag rather than a confirmation. Make a note of all five candidates, then look for another group. When you correctly solve a different category, one of your five candidates will disappear — and that's the word that was actually a member of the solved group.
Should I trust my first instinct in Connections?
First instincts are useful for identifying obvious anchor words, but dangerous for submitting groups. The most common source of lost mistakes is submitting a group quickly without testing whether extra words also fit or whether one of your four words has a better home elsewhere.
Are there categories that are genuinely impossible for some players?
Yes — some purple categories require specific pop culture knowledge (a niche band, a specific TV episode, a regional term) that not everyone will have. In those cases, using the elimination method by solving the other three groups first is the appropriate response rather than guessing.