Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

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NYT Connections today (game #977) – today’s words

NYT Connections hints for game 977 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

MAYYANKACARDFROZENPRODUCEDANCINGDAIRYMAKEJAYFASTFORMDRAGFIRMMOLDTIGHTNYT Connections today (game #977) – hint #1 – group hints

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: The act of building GREEN: In a steady position BLUE: Short versions of baseball teams PURPLE: Add a royal name

Need more clues?

We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #977) – hint #2 – group answers

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

YELLOW: CONSTRUCT GREEN: FIXED IN PLACE BLUE: MLB PLAYER, FOR SHORT PURPLE: ____ QUEEN 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

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NYT Connections today (game #977) – the answers

NYT Connections answers for game 977 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Connections, game #977, are…

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YELLOW: CONSTRUCT FORM, MAKE, MOLD, PRODUCEGREEN: FIXED IN PLACE FAST, FIRM, FROZEN, TIGHTBLUE: MLB PLAYER, FOR SHORT A, CARD, JAY, YANKPURPLE: ____ QUEEN DAIRY, DANCING, DRAG, MAYMy rating: HardMy score: Perfect

One of things I like about Connections, and there are many, is when you get a group based off a hunch from one tile.

I got that today with DANCING, which made me think of two things: Dancing with the Stars and Dancing Queen by the Swedish pop group ABBA.

Aside from DRAG I was uncertain if DAIRY and MAY also worked alongside QUEEN, but went for them because they sounded right. I’ve since discovered that Dairy Queen is one of the few US restaurant chains that is yet to make it to the UK, although it has made it to Saudi Arabia.

My other culture gap of the day was MLB PLAYER FOR SHORT – JAY and YANK I may have connected, but A and CARD seemed completely unrelated to baseball from my position of limited knowledge.

Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, February 11, game #976)YELLOW: ACT LOVESTRUCK MOON, PINE, SWOON, YEARNGREEN: EARNINGS GAIN, NET, RETURN, YIELDBLUE: COMPACT MASS BLOCK, BRICK, CAKE, PUCKPURPLE: ROLLER_____ BAG, COASTER, DERBY, RINKWhat is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.