In case you are working on the NYT Connections puzzle of today (#946), then, this post is a detailed guide that includes some soft hints, category themes, and the entire list of answers. Please, be extra careful while scrolling if you don’t want to see the spoilers.

NYT Connections challenges players to group 16 words into four categories based on hidden relationships. Each category varies in difficulty, from straightforward associations to tricky wordplay.

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Category Types in Today’s Puzzle

• Yellow: Related nouns
• Green: Related nouns
• Blue: Synonyms
• Purple: Wordplay-based connections

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Theme Hints (Spoiler-Free)

• Yellow category: Items commonly found at IKEA
• Green category: Terms describing skill or knowledge level
• Blue category: Expressions meaning a mutual promise
• Purple category: Words that end with U.S. coin names

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Things That May Trip You Up

• You don’t need medical knowledge to understand ceftazidime for this puzzle.
• Compact refers to an agreement, not size.
• Armchair is literal furniture here, not related to expertise.

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Today’s Connections Categories and Answers

🟨 Yellow – Living Room Furniture

• Armchair
• Bookcase
• Console
• Footstool

🟩 Green – Experience Levels

• Expert
• Intermediate
• Novice
• Proficient

🟦 Blue – Promise

• Agreement
• Compact
• Handshake
• Understanding

🟪 Purple – Ending in U.S. Coins

• Ceftazidime (dime)
• Headquarter (quarter)
• Moneypenny (penny)
• Pumpernickel (nickel)

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How the Puzzle Comes Together

The toughest group of words today was the purple category, which was the one where each word stealthily ended with the denomination of a U.S. coin. Identification of this pattern leads to easier positioning of the remaining words in the board.

Eventually, the NYT Connections for today provided a well-adjusted combination of reasoning, word stock, and witty wordplay whether you solved it in a flash or required a little help.