NYT Connections game #401 was published Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Start with the gentle clues below if you are still solving; the full categories and word groups follow after a spoiler warning.
Gentle hints for game #401
- One group describes a bad temper.
- One group includes words associated with testing an idea or approach.
- Look for four words that begin the titles of Broadway musicals.
- The last category completes the same first name before four familiar surnames or storybook names.
Category clues
- Things that describe someone irritable
- Early-stage or test versions
- First words in Broadway musical titles
- Peter followed by a familiar name
Spoiler warning: answers for July 16
The reported 16-word grid was PAN, PILOT, SHORT, RABBIT, CROSS, PARKER, KINKY, TRIAL, PIPER, FIDDLER, TESTY, EXPLORATORY, MERRILY, SURLY, PRELIMINARY, and JERSEY.
In a bad mood
CROSS, SHORT, SURLY, TESTY
Experimental
EXPLORATORY, PILOT, PRELIMINARY, TRIAL
Starts of Broadway musicals
FIDDLER, JERSEY, KINKY, MERRILY
Peter _____
PAN, PARKER, PIPER, RABBIT
Why some answer pages show a different grid
A page carrying nearly the same title lists barbershop supplies, quadrilaterals, onomatopoeia, and “___ cracker.” That answer set conflicts with two reports published on July 16, 2024. Parade identifies this puzzle as game #401 and gives the word list and groups above; AOL independently reports the same categories and answers. For the requested date and game number, those matching contemporaneous reports support the answer key shown here.
Sources: Parade; AOL. The conflicting page is Position Is Everything.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- UNIQUE COOPERATIVE WORD GAME: Write one clue connecting two keywords on each clover leaf. Teammates guess which keyword pair each clue links in this inventive, laugh-out-loud word association game
- CREATIVE PARTY GAME FOR ADULTS: So Clover! challenges players to make unexpected word connections. The more creative your clues, the higher your team scores in this hilarious adult party game
- GREAT FOR WORD GAME FANS: So Clover! takes cooperative word games to the next level with a unique multi-clue clover structure that delivers fresh, surprising, and satisfying creative connections
- FAST, FUN & SOCIAL: Plays in under 30 minutes with 3-6 players ages 10 and up. So Clover! is quick to setup, with no filler, just pure creative energy and highly collaborative family fun from the very first round
- IDEAL GIFT FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES: So Clover! is the party game gift for anyone who loves wordplay and creative thinking. Easy to teach in minutes, endlessly engaging at any family game night
Rank #3
- Two teams race to identify their agents from a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows each card’s identity
- Spymasters give one-word clues and a number to link multiple cards, encouraging creative thinking
- Teammates guess words matching the clue while avoiding the other team’s agents, bystanders, and the assassin
- Revealing the assassin ends the game instantly, adding high-stakes tension
- Teams may guess up to the clue number plus one, allowing strategic risks or revisiting old clues
Rank #2
- STRATEGIC THINKING: Elevate the fun with this game, where players strategically choose word combinations, making it perfect for party games for adults and family, enhancing both depth and complexity.
- MULTIPLAYER FUN: Engage in multiplayer entertainment with Subtext Showdown, perfect for game nights with 3 to 6 participants, promoting communication and creative thinking in the realm of adult games for game night.
- POINTS OF PRECISION: Accumulate points by adeptly deducing associations or demonstrating telepathic synchronicity, ensuring a gratifying experience for effective communication and intuitive connections in adult board games.
- RACE AGAINST TIME: With a ticking clock, players must think quickly and make their associations before time runs out, adding an exciting element of urgency to the game.
- EXCITING PERFECT GIFT: Combine phrases from the 16 cards to form associations that friends can decode, providing an exhilarating challenge in teen-friendly card games, perfect gift for any occasion.
#1 Best Overall
- The game where _______ minds think alike!
- Prepare yourself for Blank Slate, a game of addicting predictions! How well can you put your finger on what everyone's thinking?
- Pick a Word Cue card, write the word you think best completes the phrase, and try to match it to anther player's word without giving a single hint
- Easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for the whole family; just grab a slate, write a word, and get ready to make a match. Great for large groups or small gatherings!
- Includes: Scoreboard, 8 dry-erase slates, 250 doubled-sided word cue cards, rules
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