NYT Connections hints and answers for today (June 8, 2025)
NYT
Connections
is back with another set of brain-twisting word groupings for Sunday, June 8. This increasingly popular word game challenges players to sort 16 words into four correct groups based on hidden connections—ranging from logic and trivia to puns and homophones. While some groups may click instantly, others require a deeper dive into language, culture, or economic metaphors. If today's puzzle gave you a tough time, don't worry—we've got all the hints, clues, and final answers laid out right here to help you crack the code and sharpen your solving skills.
What is NYT Connections
Connections is one of the
New York Times
' most popular word-based puzzles after the crossword. It's a daily game where players are given a 4x4 grid of 16 seemingly unrelated words. The challenge is to find four sets of four words that share a common link. These connections can range from literal categories (e.g., types of animals) to more abstract patterns, including homophones, puns, or thematic references. The puzzle offers a fun, satisfying way to sharpen your word association skills and think laterally.
How to play NYT Connections
To play Connections, head over to the NYT Games section. You'll be presented with 16 words and must group them into four sets of four that share a common theme. Each group is color-coded by difficulty:
Yellow – Easiest
Blue – Moderate
Green – Challenging
Purple – Most difficult
You only get four mistakes before the game ends. If you're stuck, the game may indicate that you're 'one away' from a correct group—offering a small but crucial hint. It's a blend of strategy, intuition, and vocabulary that tests your lateral thinking.
Today's NYT Connections hints (June 8)
Here are the category hints for today's puzzle:
Yellow group – Words about not giving up
Blue group – Information headings about a person's life
Green group – Creatures that describe markets
Purple group – Sounds like money
These clues should help guide you to identify each group based on theme and usage.
Today's NYT Connections answers
Here are the final groupings for today's puzzle:
Persist – Hold, Last, Stand, Stay
Wikipedia sidebar info – Born, Education, Occupation, Spouse
Animal market metaphors – Bear, Bull, Dove, Hawk
Homophones for money – Bred, Cache, Doe, Lute
If you had trouble placing words like Lute or Doe, remember the game often plays with sound-alike words and slang. For example, Doe = dough (slang for money), and Lute = loot.
Explanation of today's puzzle
Many players began with the green group, quickly spotting animal metaphors used in economics: bull and bear markets, hawkish or dovish stances.
From there, words like Last and Stand led to the yellow group—phrases about persistence.
The trickiest category may have been purple, where you had to hear the money connection: Bred (bread), Doe (dough), Lute (loot), and Cache (cash).
Finally, the blue group reflects personal life info often found in Wikipedia sidebars, though that category was less obvious.
June 8's Connections puzzle struck a solid balance between fun and challenge, blending straightforward logic with clever wordplay. If you cracked it without using up all your mistakes—well done! If not, each attempt still sharpens your brain for tomorrow's word grid. Whether you're a seasoned Connectioneer or just getting started, there's always something new to learn, laugh at, or get stumped by. Check back daily for more hints and solutions.
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