Issue #785 Thu 26 Jun
Connections hints — June 26, 2025
Today's grid requires a steady hand, pairing a few clear-cut themes with enough linguistic overlap to keep the morning coffee warm. It rewards those who pause before committing to the first association that comes to mind.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
A wooden bowl, a plastic container of vinaigrette, and the lingering sound of a fork scraping against the bottom.
Culinary items
Synonyms for common dietary components
Members are 6–8 letters; first letters C, D, L, P.
COMPONENTS OF A SALAD
One is CHEESE.
CHEESE · DRESSING · LETTUCE · PROTEIN
green group 7 nudges
Green group
The quiet hum of a motor, a mechanical clatter, or the rhythmic sound of a needle piercing fabric.
Mechanical devices
Categorization by function
Members are 6–7 letters; first letters E, P, S, V.
KINDS OF MACHINES
One is ENIGMA.
ENIGMA · PINBALL · SEWING · VENDING
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
You take the same route home and a single door is open that's never open, revealing a tense courtroom scene on a flickering screen.
Television and film
Proper nouns sharing a thematic subject
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters D, G, M, S.
LEGAL DRAMAS
One is DAMAGES.
DAMAGES · GOLIATH · MATLOCK · SUITS
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
Look at a deck of cards. Look closely at the names attached to the suits and the ranks.
Wordplay
Compound words sharing a terminal suffix
Members are 6–8 letters; first letters B, H, L, M.
ENDING WITH PLAYING CARDS
One is BOJACK.
BOJACK · HAWKING · LOVELACE · MCQUEEN