Issue #680 Fri 21 Mar
Connections hints — March 21, 2025
A grid requiring steady hands and careful sorting. Today's puzzle features a mix of literal and linguistic associations that demand patience as the four distinct groups slowly reveal their boundaries.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
You find yourself in the back of the room, listening to the small-talk of people who have known each other for years.
Sociological concepts
Direct synonyms
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters C, S, W.
MILIEU
One is CIRCLE.
CIRCLE · SCENE · SPHERE · WORLD
green group 7 nudges
Green group
The person everyone in the room stops to watch when they walk through the door.
Notable figures
Direct synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters G, I, L.
LUMINARY
One is GREAT.
GREAT · ICON · LEGEND · LION
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
Smudging graphite on the edge of your hand while leaning over a drafting table.
Drafting equipment
Functional set
Members are 5–8 letters; first letters C, R, S, T.
ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING TOOLS
One is COMPASS.
COMPASS · RULER · STENCIL · T-SQUARE
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
A hallway conversation about a future professional milestone or a messy bathroom sink.
Compound words
Shared prefix
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters C, E, M, S.
BAR ___
One is CHART.
CHART · EXAM · MITZVAH · SOAP