Every day, The New York Times offers a fresh challenge to word game enthusiasts with its popular puzzle, Connections. On July 20, 2025, puzzle number 770 tested players' wit and vocabulary with a set of 16 words that needed to be sorted into four distinct groups, each linked by a common theme. Whether you breezed through the puzzle or found yourself scratching your head, this edition delivered a blend of straightforward and tricky connections that kept the brain buzzing.
Connections, launched in beta in June 2023, has rapidly become one of The New York Times' most beloved games, second only to the viral sensation Wordle. Its gameplay is deceptively simple: players are presented with 16 words and tasked with grouping them into four clusters of four words each, where each cluster shares a unique connection. The challenge lies in deciphering these links, which range from obvious thematic ties to subtle wordplay and cultural references.
The July 20 puzzle featured the words: Bop, Draw, Cross, Buzz, Dry, Loan, Pull, Sway, Bounce, Twist, Drag, Shaken, Pass, Groove, Gin, and Puff. These words were to be arranged into groups of four, with each group assigned a color indicating its difficulty level—Yellow being the easiest, followed by Green, Blue, and Purple as the most challenging.
Let's break down the groups and their themes. The Yellow group, the most accessible, was themed "Move to the Music." It included the words Bop, Bounce, Groove, and Sway—terms that evoke dancing and rhythmic movement. According to The New York Times, this group was the easiest for many players to spot, as these words naturally cluster around the concept of dancing.
The Green group revolved around "Inhalation," a less obvious but still approachable theme. It comprised Drag, Draw, Puff, and Pull—verbs associated with breathing in or inhaling, particularly in the context of smoking. This group challenged players to think beyond the literal meanings and consider actions related to cigarettes or similar activities.
Next up was the Blue group, themed "Martini Specifications." This cluster included Dry, Gin, Shaken, and Twist—words commonly linked to martini cocktails. The presence of "Gin" and "Shaken" immediately conjures images of the classic James Bond drink, while "Dry" and "Twist" refer to specific ways of preparing or garnishing the cocktail. This group was noted for its medium difficulty, requiring some cultural or culinary knowledge to identify.
Finally, the Purple group, the hardest of the four, was themed "___Word." This set contained Buzz, Cross, Loan, and Pass. Each of these words can precede "word" to form a common compound word—buzzword, crossword, loanword, and password. This theme demanded players to recognize the linguistic pattern and was often the stumbling block for many.
One player, reflecting on the challenge, shared their experience: "I got the idea stuck in my head that there was a group about a card game, so I had DRAW, PULL, PASS and CROSS. Fortunately, I abandoned this idea before I made any more mistakes. Getting MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS helped narrow things down and led to me finding the green and yellow groups." This anecdote highlights how the puzzle can mislead even seasoned solvers, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and reconsideration during play.
For those unfamiliar with "loanword," it refers to a word adopted from a foreign language with little or no modification. Examples include "safari," "karaoke," and "guru," but also surprising entries like "cookie," derived from Dutch, and "cartoon," originating from Italian. Such linguistic nuances add an educational layer to the game, enriching players' vocabulary and cultural knowledge.
Connections also offers a forgiving gameplay mechanic: players can make up to four mistakes before the game ends, allowing for trial and error. The color-coded difficulty levels help guide players, with Yellow being the easiest group to identify and Purple the most challenging. This structure keeps the game engaging for a broad range of skill levels.
Beyond the daily Connections puzzle, The New York Times provides an array of other word games to keep enthusiasts entertained. Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and the beta game Strands offer varied wordplay experiences. For those seeking a break from words, games like Tiles, a motif matching game, or Sudoku provide alternative puzzles. For fans of similar formats, Puzzgrid offers hundreds of Connections-style puzzles with a time pressure twist, challenging players to solve them within three minutes.
Connections' popularity owes much to its clever blend of linguistic challenge, cultural references, and strategic thinking. Its daily release at midnight in each time zone ensures a constant flow of fresh puzzles, keeping players coming back for more. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated wordsmith, the July 20, 2025 puzzle exemplifies the game's ability to entertain and educate simultaneously.
So, if you missed today's puzzle or want to test your skills further, the next Connections challenge awaits at midnight. And if you’re looking for a new game to try afterward, The New York Times’ suite of word puzzles has something for everyone. Until then, keep those connections sharp and your vocabulary sharper!
