Connections Unlimited is a daily word game from the New York Times, edited by Wyna Liu, that has taken the internet by storm. Players are given 16 words and must sort them into four groups of four, each sharing a common theme. The groups are color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest). With only four mistakes allowed, Connections strikes a perfect balance between challenge and fun, making it a favorite alongside Wordle and Spelling Bee.
Here are the four groups for Connections puzzle #803, listed from easiest (Yellow) to hardest (Purple), along with their themes:
Words: CHEVY CHASE, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, GEOFFREY RUSH, TOM CRUISE
Theme: These are famous actors whose last names double as action-oriented verbs. “Chase” means to pursue, “waltz” refers to a dance, “rush” implies speed, and “cruise” suggests smooth travel. This group is the easiest, as the celebrity names are well-known, and the verb connection is straightforward.
Words: ADAMS, FORD, GRANT, WASHINGTON
Theme: These are surnames of former U.S. Presidents—John Adams, Gerald Ford, Ulysses S. Grant, and George Washington. History buffs will find this group intuitive, though some might initially confuse “Ford” with the car brand.
Words: DRAW, OMAHA, STUD, TEXAS HOLD ’EM
Theme: This group includes different variations of the card game poker: Draw Poker, Omaha Poker, Stud Poker, and Texas Hold ’em. Poker enthusiasts will breeze through this, but casual players may need to tap into their trivia knowledge.
Words: AMY, JOHN MALKOVICH, LAS VEGAS, PRIVATE RYAN
Theme: The toughest group, this one features proper nouns that follow gerunds (verbs ending in -ing used as nouns) in ’90s movie titles: Chasing Amy (1997), Being John Malkovich (1999), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), and Saving Private Ryan (1998). This category requires both pop culture knowledge and grammatical awareness, making it a classic Purple group challenge.
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Connections has become a daily obsession for word game fans, thanks to its clever design and replayability. Unlike Wordle’s single-word focus, Connections challenges players to spot diverse themes, from history to pop culture. The color-coded difficulty system adds strategy, and the four-mistake limit keeps the game approachable yet engaging. Sharing your solve grid on platforms like X lets you connect with the global Connections community, making it a social experience.
