The Saturday edition of NYT Connections arrives with puzzle #944, serving up a grid that rewards both technical knowledge and everyday vocabulary. Today's challenge particularly favors those who can spot measurement units and software platforms while navigating deceptive surface-level connections.
What Makes Connections Tick
For newcomers, NYT Connections presents 16 words that must be sorted into four thematic groups of four.
The twist?
You're limited to four mistakes, and the color-coded difficulty system (yellow being easiest, purple being trickiest) means surface-level connections often mislead.
Since its June 2023 launch, Connections has carved out its niche in the Times' puzzle ecosystem, standing alongside Wordle and the crossword as a daily ritual for millions of players worldwide.
The game's genius lies in its red herrings, words that could fit multiple categories but belong in only one.
Today's Grid at a Glance
Here are the 16 words staring back at you in puzzle #944:
BOOK | BAR | GRAM | SPLIT
TUBE | WEB | JET | APP
MOLE | STRAW | DESKTOP | PIPE
HOSE | DIP | VOLT | MOBILE
A seemingly random collection that somehow connects into four perfect categories.
Strategic Hints (No Spoilers Yet)
Yellow Category Nudge: Think about everyday objects that share a common cylindrical shape.
Green Category Clue: Consider the different ways you access digital services and applications.
Blue Category Hint: These words all describe ways to leave or depart, but not necessarily in the literal sense.
Purple Category Teaser: Scientific and technical measurements that might appear in a lab or engineering context.
The Full Solutions
Last chance to solve independently: answers below
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Yellow (Hollow Cylinders): HOSE, PIPE, STRAW, TUBE
These four words all describe cylindrical objects with hollow interiors designed to transport substances.
The connection is straightforward once you visualize the physical form, though "STRAW" might initially distract with its beverage association rather than its shape.
Green (Software Platforms): APP, DESKTOP, MOBILE, WEB
This category groups the primary platforms where software applications run.
Each represents a distinct computing environment, from traditional desktop systems to mobile devices and web-based interfaces.
Blue (Take Off): BOOK, DIP, JET, SPLIT
All four words can function as verbs meaning to leave or depart quickly.
"BOOK" as in "book it" (to hurry), "DIP" as in "dip out" (to leave), "JET" (to depart rapidly), and "SPLIT" (to leave a place).
Purple (Units of Measure): BAR, GRAM, MOLE, VOLT
These are all scientific units of measurement across different disciplines.
BAR measures pressure, GRAM measures mass, MOLE measures amount of substance in chemistry, and VOLT measures electrical potential.
The Verdict
Puzzle #944 registers as moderate difficulty with a technical edge.
Yellow falls quickly for anyone who recognizes physical shapes, while green requires thinking about modern computing environments.
Blue separates those familiar with informal departure slang from casual observers.
Purple, predictably, is the streak-ender, requiring specific scientific knowledge that won't reveal itself without technical background.
The real trap lies in words like "BAR" and "PIPE" that could easily mislead solvers toward drinking establishments or plumbing contexts.
"MOLE" presents a classic misdirection, potentially suggesting espionage or skin growths rather than its scientific measurement meaning.
Reset and Repeat
Tomorrow's puzzle drops at midnight in your timezone.
Until then, reflect on today's performance: did you spot the measurement units or get tripped up by the departure slang?
The beauty lies not in perfection but in training your brain to spot these hidden patterns.
For now, puzzle #944 is solved.
See you at midnight for round #945.
