[July 31, 2025 | Earthtechy Gaming News Desk]
If you’re anything like me, you know that tackling The New York Times’ daily word games is the perfect way to fire up your brain every morning. And guess what? Today’s Connections puzzle (#781) and the exciting Connections Sports Edition (#311) are both packed with satisfying wordplay and some clever traps to trip you up.
Whether you’re here to check your answers or just need a nudge in the right direction, I’ve got you covered with every hint, category, and solution for Thursday, July 31, 2025. Let’s dive right in—but don’t worry, I’ll warn you before the spoilers drop! 👇
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Before I spoil anything, here’s what I can tell you: according to NYT Games’ official testing team, today’s Connections puzzle clocks in at a 2.5 out of 5 on the difficulty scale. Not too easy, not too brutal—just the kind of brain teaser that makes your morning coffee hit a little better.
As always, there are four mystery categories in the Connections grid, color-coded by difficulty:
Let me tease your brain a bit with one word from each category:
Do any of those ring a bell or spark a connection in your head? If so, you’re already one step closer to the right groupings. I’ll reveal all four answers soon—but first, let’s switch gears and talk about the newest NYT word game making waves.
ICYMI, Connections Sports Edition is the latest addition to the NYT Games lineup, built for all of us who love wordplay and sports. It’s pretty similar to the main Connections game, but this version is all about sports terminology, teams, players, and game-day slang.
Powered by a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic, this game updates daily at 12 a.m. EST, challenging players to find the four correct sports-related groupings among 16 jumbled words.
According to NYT’s official guidance, you’re meant to “group sports terms that share a common thread.”
Need a little help before diving into today’s categories? Here are your lightly cryptic clues:
If you’re already thinking football, tennis, or even 8-ball pool—you’re on the right track.
Read More: NYT Connections Hints and Answers for July 30, 2025 (#780): Tricky Anagram Puzzle Cracked!
Alright, time for the spoiler zone! Let’s reveal today’s full solutions for Connections Sports Edition #311:
Now that’s a clean sweep if you nailed all four! The Jalen Hurts set is especially fun—it’s a nod to his college career and NFL stardom. And I love how the pool terms snuck in a “SCRATCH”—easy to miss unless you’ve played a few rounds.
Alright, back to the main Connections puzzle. If you’ve been puzzling over those color-coded clues, it’s time to pull back the curtain and reveal the full groupings for Connections #781.
Here are today’s four correct categories and the words that belong to each (as based on official structure and provided clues):
🔶 Yellow (Easiest) – Titles for Women:
LADY, MISS, MRS, MS
🟩 Green – Instruments You Bow:
FIDDLE, VIOLIN, CELLO, BASS
🟦 Blue – Types of Gatherings:
PARTY, SHINDIG, BASH, GALA
🟪 Purple (Trickiest) – Things That Make You Laugh:
LAUGH, CHUCKLE, SNORT, GIGGLE
If you grouped “FIDDLE” with something else or confused “MS” with another category, don’t worry—you’re not alone. These puzzles love to mix words with multiple meanings, and today’s set leaned into that misdirection. Still, nothing beats that little rush when you finally lock in a full group correctly, right?
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Now let’s talk about another daily word game I absolutely enjoy—Hurdle. This one’s a five-step challenge that starts you off simple and then throws increasingly tough hurdles your way, ending in a final showdown word built on all your previous wins.
If you’ve never played, here’s a quick tip: each round gives you colored feedback, just like Wordle, and your final hurdle draws clues from your previous four answers. Today’s puzzle was particularly well-balanced with a satisfying finish.
Let’s run through today’s five hurdles:
Hint: A saying or proverb
Answer: MAXIM
That one set the tone—straightforward and punchy.
Hint: A tropical fruit
Answer: GUAVA
A juicy, flavorful twist to the puzzle—literally and figuratively.
Hint: What you do to guitar strings
Answer: STRUM
Music fans, this probably clicked immediately!
Hint: The largest body of water
Answer: OCEAN
A vast and calming word—good mental imagery too.
Hint: To fold or compress
Answer: CRIMP
A sneaky one! It’s not a common daily-use word, but if you’ve ever used hair tools or worked with wires, it might’ve sparked a connection.
Read More: Wordle #1503 Answer and Hints for July 31, 2025: A Fancy Puzzle With a Double Twist
Whether you crushed today’s puzzles or had a few false starts, the fun of these NYT word games is in the challenge—and the tiny victories along the way. From grouping giggle-worthy words to solving multi-step hurdles, July 31, 2025 gave us a satisfying mix of language, logic, and fun.
So, what’s next? You already know:
✅ Come back tomorrow for the latest hints, categories, and solutions
✅ Share your score grids proudly
✅ And don’t forget to refresh your coffee before your next word adventure!
📣 Stay connected with Earthtechy for daily updates on NYT word games including Connections, Sports Edition, Wordle, Hurdle, and more.
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