Today’s Connections puzzle is clever, literary, and just a little bit tricky. Whether you’re a word game whiz or just dipping your toes into this daily NYT favorite, we’ve got everything you need: categorized hints, strategy tips, and full answers to help you make the most of puzzle #743.
What is the NYT Connections Game?
If you’re new to Connections, it’s one of The New York Times’ most popular daily games. The goal? Identify four groups of four words that share a common theme. It sounds easy, but as fans know, some categories can be deceptive or extremely niche.
Each puzzle includes 16 words, and they need to be sorted into four distinct categories. Colors represent difficulty:
- Yellow: Easiest
- Green: Moderate
- Blue: Harder
- Purple: Most challenging or obscure
Let’s dive into today’s Connections breakdown for June 23, 2025.
Also read: Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues and Answers for June 23, 2025
Today NYT Connections Hints for June 23
Yellow Group Hint: Kinds of Jeans
Hint: Seven for All Mankind, Levi’s, Jordache
If you’re even slightly into fashion, this group likely popped out quickly. The common thread? Different styles of jeans, which have also become cultural labels over time. The four correct answers are:
- Boyfriend
- Mom
- Flare
- Skinny
Each of these terms refers to a cut or style of jeans, often defined by fit or silhouette. “Mom” jeans have made a stylish comeback in recent years, while “skinny” jeans remain a modern classic. “Boyfriend” jeans are looser and more relaxed, and “flare” brings back the retro bell-bottom vibe.
Green Group Hint: Fiction Categories
Hint: Read up.
If you’re a bookworm, this group might’ve been an instant click. Today’s green group centers around literary genres or categories of fiction. The correct answers:
- Historical
- Literary
- Speculative
- Young Adult
These are all well-known types of fiction found in bookstores and libraries. “Speculative” fiction includes sci-fi, fantasy, and alternate realities. “Historical” takes readers back in time, while “Young Adult” targets teen audiences. “Literary” fiction tends to emphasize style and thematic depth over plot.
Blue Group Hint: Words in Hemingway Titles
Hint: Cats and Key West
This group is a fun nod to literature and specifically, Ernest Hemingway’s iconic works. If you’re familiar with his bibliography—or just visited his house in Key West—you might’ve recognized this set. The correct answers are:
- Bell (from For Whom the Bell Tolls)
- Farewell (from A Farewell to Arms)
- Old Man (from The Old Man and the Sea)
- Sun (from The Sun Also Rises)
Each of these words is featured prominently in some of Hemingway’s most celebrated titles. It’s a beautiful literary theme for a blue-level challenge.
Purple Group Hint: ____ Glass Glassware
Hint: Cheers!
This one might’ve required a second (or third) look. The purple group is all about glassware used in cocktails or alcoholic beverages. Think: “_____ glass” as a phrase. The answers:
- Cocktail
- Collins
- Old Fashioned
- Shot
Each of these is a type of drinking glass named after the drink it typically contains. A Collins glass is tall and narrow, a shot glass is small and for quick drinks, an Old Fashioned glass is short and wide, and of course, cocktail glass refers to the V-shaped glass often used for martinis.
Related:
Today Connections Answers for June 23
When you’re stuck, try to:
- Look for proper nouns or phrases (e.g., “Old Man” or “Mom”)
- Group words by shared formats — is it a part of a name, a style, or a container?
- Watch out for trick overlaps — e.g., “Skinny” could fit in jeans or body types.
Yellow (Jeans): Boyfriend, Mom, Flare, Skinny
Green (Fiction): Historical, Literary, Speculative, Young Adult
Blue (Hemingway Titles): Bell, Farewell, Old Man, Sun
Purple (Glassware): Cocktail, Collins, Old Fashioned, Shot
Also read: Today’s Wordle Hints and Answer for Monday June 23, 2025
Final Thoughts
Today’s puzzle was a delightful mix of fashion, fiction, and fine drinking. The yellow and green groups were accessible for most solvers, but the blue and purple categories added literary and mixology flair that made #743 both intellectually satisfying and a little bit tricky.
Whether you grouped everything perfectly or needed a few nudges, each puzzle helps improve your pattern recognition and lateral thinking. Don’t forget to check out the Connections Bot on the NYT site to track your progress and win streaks.
