Buzz
If you need the answer to the Connections puzzle for Wednesday, September 20, 2023, keep reading—I’ll provide clues, strategies, and the solutions to all four categories. Warning: Spoilers ahead for September 20, NYT Connections #101! Scroll down for hints and the final answer to today’s Connections game.
For quick access to daily Connections hints, bookmark this page. You can also explore past hints here to catch up on any puzzles you might have missed.
A Guide to Playing Connections
For a comprehensive guide on playing Connections, here’s a quick recap of the rules:
Start by accessing the Connections game either on the New York Times website or through their Crossword app. The game board displays 16 tiles, each featuring a word or phrase. Your objective is to group four tiles that share a common theme. These themes can range from straightforward categories (e.g., RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW, which are all forms of precipitation) to more creative wordplay (e.g., BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH, which all relate to types of lists: bucket list, guest list, etc.).
After selecting four items, click the Submit button. A correct guess will reveal the category and its corresponding color (yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple). If your guess is wrong, you’ll have another opportunity to try.
You succeed by correctly identifying all four groups. However, if you make four incorrect attempts before completing the puzzle, the game ends, and the answers are shown.
Strategies to Master Connections
To succeed in Connections, keep in mind that the groupings are intentionally deceptive. Be prepared for overlapping categories. For instance, one puzzle appeared to feature six breakfast items: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. However, BACON was part of a painters group alongside CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, while EGG belonged to a category of items that come in dozens (including JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). Always double-check that your group of four is exclusive before submitting.
When you’re stuck, focus on words that seem unrelated. For example, if WHISTLER only reminds you of the famous painting “Whistler’s Mother,” you might be onto something. During my own attempt, I had to search whether Close was a painter’s name, as it didn’t fit any obvious themes.
If you’re struggling, another effective strategy is to seek hints. Below, I’ll provide subtle clues for today’s Connections answers. Further down, I’ll reveal the full themes and solutions. Scroll carefully and use only the hints you need!
Does today’s Connections puzzle require specialized knowledge?
Not at all—no obscure hobbies or movie references today. There’s a nod to one sport or pastime, but even if you’ve never participated, the terms will be familiar.
Clues for today’s Connections puzzle themes
Here are some spoiler-free hints to help you identify today’s Connections groupings:
Yellow category - Something you might need for your tire or your key.
Green category - Aim for a perfect score of 300 here.
Blue category - Celebrities often have their names associated with these.
Purple category - Let me share a silly joke: Why was six scared of seven? Because seven ‘ate’ nine.
Is wordplay involved in today’s Connections puzzle?
Yes, the purple category includes homophones.
Are you ready to see the answers? Scroll further if you need a bit more assistance.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead for today’s Connections puzzle!
We’re about to reveal some answers. Scroll carefully if you want to avoid seeing everything at once. (The complete solution is located further down.)
Which words in today’s Connections have multiple meanings?
A TEE can refer to the stand used in baseball or the shirt you wear during the game.
PIN and PEN belong to separate categories today, even though they seem similar.
TOO and TEE are also grouped into different categories.
COPY isn’t related to radio terminology this time (that was last week). Instead, it’s something you might keep as a BACKUP for an item you could misplace.
What are the categories in today’s Connections puzzle?
Yellow: REPLACEMENT
Green: BOWLING
Blue: EVERYDAY MERCHANDISE
Purple: NUMBER SOUND-ALIKES
DOUBLE WARNING: THE ANSWERS ARE COMING UP
Ready to discover the solutions to today’s Connections puzzle? I’ll reveal them all below.
Which words belong to the yellow category in today’s Connections?
The yellow category is designed to be the easiest. Today’s yellow group revolves around REPLACEMENT, featuring the words: BACKUP, COPY, EXTRA, SPARE.
Which words are part of the green category in today’s Connections?
The green category is intended to be the second-easiest. Today’s green theme is BOWLING, and the words included are: ALLEY, BALL, LANE, PIN.
What words belong to the blue category in today’s Connections?
The blue category is ranked as the second-hardest. Today’s blue theme is COMMON MERCH ITEMS, with the words: MUG, PEN, TEE, TOTE.
Which words are included in the purple category for today’s Connections?
The purple category is the most challenging. Today’s purple theme is NUMBER HOMOPHONES, featuring the words: ATE (8), FOR (4), TOO (2), WON (1).
How I cracked today’s Connections puzzle
I started by focusing on the numbers. TOO and TEE made me think of the letter T, while FOR and ATE hinted at numbers, with WON being the only logical match. (I pronounce “one” and “won” differently—regional accents can sometimes influence the puzzle.) That solved the purple group.
For SPARE, I initially considered “spare tire” and “spare time,” but fill-in-the-blanks usually belong to the purple category. This led me to look elsewhere, and I paired SPARE with EXTRA and BACKUP. COPY fit perfectly as the final piece. After reviewing the remaining tiles, I identified the other groups: bowling terms (PIN, ALLEY, BALL, LANE) and promotional merchandise (PEN, MUG, TEE, TOTE). Despite its initial complexity, this was one of my faster solves.
Connections Puzzle #101 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟦🟦🟦
