New Delhi, July 7 -- The New York Times' daily Connections puzzle continues to challenge players with clever word associations, hidden themes, and deceptive red herrings. Created by puzzle editor Wyna Liu, the game asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on a shared connection. The categories range from Yellow (easiest) to Purple (most difficult), with each successive group typically requiring more lateral thinking.

If today's puzzle has you stuck, we've compiled spoiler-free hints first so you can preserve your solving experience. Players looking back at today's Connections puzzle from the previous day can also compare how the themes evolve from one puzzle to the next. Scroll further only if you're ready to reveal t...