Need the answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You're given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they're obvious, but game editor Wyna Liu knows how to trick you by using words that can fit into more than one group. Read on for today's Connections hints and answers.

Want more game answers? Here's the Wordle answer for today, and here's the answer for Strands. 

Read more: NYT Connections Could Be the New Wordle: Our Hints and Tips

How to play Connections

Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don't know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including "Rushmore" and "Journeyman."

Hints for today's Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Shrug.

Green group hint: Like MN or NY.

Blue group hint: Made for walking.

Purple group hint: Merry-go-round does this.

Answers for today's Connections groups

Yellow group: Meh.

Green group: US state abbreviations.

Blue group: Kinds of boots.

Purple group: Things that go up and down.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today's Connections answers?

The yellow words in today's Connections

The theme is meh. The four answers are average, fair, OK and so-so.

The green words in today's Connections

The theme is US state abbreviations. The four answers are HI, MA, OR and PA.

The blue words in today's Connections

The theme is kinds of boots. The four answers are ankle, cowboy, go-go and thigh-high.

The purple words in today's Connections

The theme is things that go up and down. The four answers are elevator, sun, tide and yo-yo.