‘Connections’ February 10: Hints and Answers for Puzzle #610

If Monday’s puzzle is making the start to your work week worse, you can lean on Newsweek.

We have compiled some hints and tips to help you get through Monday’s brainteaser and if you still can’t get it, you can scroll to the bottom and find the answers.

But first, let’s recap on how to play.

How to Play Connections

Since its launch in The New York Times in June 2023, Connections has gained a massive following and it is now the newspaper’s second most popular game after Wordle.

In short, the game tests players’ abilities to group words based on subtle connections, requiring a mix of logic and language skills.

Players must group 16 words into four categories based on their relationships. Each group is coded by color to indicate difficulty: yellow for the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple for more challenging sets.

The puzzles often incorporate homophones, wordplay, and other clever twists, ensuring they are rarely straightforward. Players can use the shuffle button to mix up the words on the screen if they get stuck.

Wyna Liu, a crossword editor at the Times who was asked to develop Connections, previously offered tips for tackling the game in an interview with Newsweek.

“My top advice is to hold off on guessing as long as you can,” Liu said. “You might spot a clear category and think you see five words that fit, but don’t try guessing the four until you’re sure which one doesn’t belong. Jumping in too soon can cost you a turn.”

Liu also warned against what she calls “rage solving,” a method she confessed to using herself on occasion.

Connections #610, Clues for Monday, February 10

Yellow: The action of adding something small/adding a little bit of something.

Green: Words used to describe an alcoholic drink one usually has with dinner.

Blue: Words in relation to giving up, often in a competitive context.

Purple: They look the same, but sound different.

Connections #610, Answers for Monday, February 10

Yellow Category: Sprinkle

Yellow Words: Dust, Pepper, Scatter, Shower

Green Category: Scents of Wine

Green Words: Aroma, Bouquet, Nose, Note

Blue Category: “Aah, Enough!”

Blue Words: Mercy, Stop, Truce, Uncle

Purple Category: Words Famously Pronounced Different Ways

Purple Words: Aunt, Either, Tomato, Vase

Did you guess the answers correctly? If so, congratulations! If not, there will be another opportunity to crack a new puzzle on Tuesday and Newsweek will be here to help you through that as well.