Unlock the four clever categories in today’s NYT Connections (#772). From sassiness to pie-themed surprises, here’s your witty, in-depth take—group hints, full answers, and strategic tips to ace future puzzles.
A Colorful Challenge: What to Expect
Today’s Connections puzzle gave us a fun mix of attitude, softness, visual designs, and dessert wordplay. The goal, as always, was to sort 16 seemingly random words into four groups of four based on a common connection. Some categories practically shouted their meaning, while others required a second cup of coffee and a small existential crisis.
Let’s go through it step-by-step, from the easiest yellow group to the mind-bending purple.
Yellow Group – Sassiness
This group was loud and proud—words that all relate to snappy talk or bold behavior. If you’ve ever been told you have “a bit of mouth,” you probably spotted this one quickly.
Group:
- Attitude
- Cheek
- Lip
- Mouth
All four can describe someone with a bit too much to say—or at least too much confidence saying it. This was a strong place to start the puzzle, and likely the first win of the day for many.
Green Group – To Soften or Reduce
Here we saw a theme of words related to lowering intensity, calming things down, or generally making things less harsh.
Group:
- Cushion
- Dampen
- Soften
- Temper
These words show up in conversations about emotions, reactions, and even physical comfort. Once you found one (like “dampen”), the rest fell into place with ease.
Blue Group – Patterns
This was the group for all the visual thinkers. These words all describe repeating patterns or designs, some natural and some man-made.
Group:
- Camo
- Checkers
- Honeycomb
- Stripes
Whether you’re thinking about fashion, nature, or a picnic blanket, these words have one thing in common: they describe distinctive, recognizable patterns.
Purple Group – Words That Pair with “Pie”
This was the curveball. At first glance, some of these words seem totally unrelated. But once you think about common phrases or desserts, it all makes sense.
Group:
- Chess
- Cutie
- Humble
- Whoopie
These are all words that can be paired with “pie” to form phrases like chess pie (a sweet Southern dessert), humble pie (what you metaphorically eat when you’re wrong), cutie pie (a term of endearment), and whoopie pie (a chocolate sandwich cake filled with frosting). This group was clever and might have taken a few tries to see.
Final Answers Recap
- Yellow – Sassiness: Attitude, Cheek, Lip, Mouth
- Green – Mitigate: Cushion, Dampen, Soften, Temper
- Blue – Patterns: Camo, Checkers, Honeycomb, Stripes
- Purple – “___ Pie” Phrases: Chess, Cutie, Humble, Whoopie
Solving Tips for Connections
- Start with the obvious. Yellow is usually the simplest group and gives you an easy win to build momentum.
- Look for verbs and functions. The green group often involves actions or processes.
- Patterns often group visually. Words in the blue category typically relate to things you can see or touch.
- Save the trickiest group for last. Purple categories love wordplay, double meanings, and unexpected pairings.
That’s it for today
Today’s puzzle offered a nice mix of logic, observation, and humor. If you spotted sass early and worked your way to dessert wordplay, it probably felt like a smooth ride. And if you got stuck on “chess,” don’t worry—you’re not alone. Connections always has a surprise waiting in that purple group.
Whether you finished in one shot or after multiple attempts, it’s all about making connections—and now, you’ve made four. See you tomorrow for more word fun!
Also check:
Wordle #1494 Hints & Answer for July 22, 2025
Quordle 1275 Hints & Answers for July 22, 2025 – Classic, Chill, Extreme & Sequence Served Hot
NYT Strands 506 (July 22, 2025): Aquarium-Themed Puzzle Breakdown
