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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who like college football on New Year's.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Out in LA

• Green: CFP games

• Blue: Hoopers named Chris

• Purple: Low-seeded conference champs

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: A Los Angeles Athlete

• Green: College Football Bowl Games

• Blue: Basketball Chrises

• Purple: Men's NCAA Tournament 16-Seeds

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #560 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A Los Angeles Athlete - CLIPPER, KING, RAM, SPARK

• College Football Bowl Games - FIESTA, ORANGE, ROSE, SUGAR

• Basketball Chrises - BOSH, MULLIN, PAUL, WEBBER

• Men's NCAA Tournament 16-Seeds - HOWARDS, LONG ISLAND, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M, SIENA

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To hang on.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CLING

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To gain knowledge.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

LEARN

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

An infection.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 6, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

VIRUS

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To stir up.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

STOKE

Final Hurdle hint

A popular dressing.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

RANCH

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a theatre kid.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: It's party time!

• Green: Intrigue

• Blue: A popular kids' game

• Purple: Broadway classics

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Events with dancing

• Green: Interest

• Blue: Components of Whack-a-Mole

• Purple: Musical with last letter changed

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1030 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Events with dancing: BALL, HOEDOWN, HOP, RAVE

• Interest: CLAIM, CONCERN, SHARE, STAKE

• Components of Whack-a-Mole: HOLES, MALLET, MOLE, TIMER

• Musical with last letter changed: CAROUSER, EVITE, OLIVES, WICKET

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 6, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you never cross the line.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 6, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fringe group

The words are related to boundaries

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being out the outskirts.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Outer Limits.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 6

• Verge

• Boundary

• Margin

• Edge

• Brink

• Extremity

• Outer Limits

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't break your promises.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 6, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 6, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Promised.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SWORN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

TL;DR: Get the full Microsoft Office suite on your Mac for a one-time $49.97 — no other fees, no renewals, just lifetime access.

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Free productivity apps sounded like a good idea until you hit the roadblocks. Formatting breaks, missing features, and compatibility issues tend to show up right when you need things to work smoothly. That’s why a full version of Microsoft Office still stands out — especially when it’s available as a one-time purchase instead of another monthly bill.

For a limited time, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $49.97 (reg. $219). It’s a straightforward upgrade that gives you the tools you probably already know — just without the ongoing cost.

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What you get with Office 2021 for Mac:

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote: the core apps for writing, data, presentations, email, and collaboration

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If you’ve been piecing together your workflow with free tools, this is a simple way to upgrade without overthinking it.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Home& Business 2021 for a one-time $49.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Claude users will now have to pay more to use third-party tools like the viral AI assistant OpenClaw, Anthropic announced.

The news came via email from Anthropic to Claude subscription holders. It was posted on Hacker News and states that as of April 4 at 12 p.m. PT, subscribers will "no longer be able to use your Claude subscription limits for third-party harnesses [tools] including OpenClaw. You can still use them with your Claude account, but they will require extra usage, a pay-as-you-go option billed separately from your subscription."

SEE ALSO: Anthropic makes the case for anthropomorphizing AI in ‘unsettling’ research paper

Head of Claude Code, Boris Cherny, said the same on X on Friday, and mentioned these tools can also be used with an API key. He shared an explanation for the change: "We've been working hard to meet the increase in demand for Claude, and our subscriptions weren't built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools. Capacity is a resource we manage thoughtfully and we are prioritizing our customers using our products and API."

In February, OpenClaw developer Peter Steinberger joined OpenAI after the tool became widely known online. On Friday, Steinberger posted on X that he and OpenClaw board member Dave Morin "tried to talk sense into Anthropic, best we managed was delaying this for a week."

He continued, "Funny how timings match up, first they copy some popular features into their closed harness, then they lock out open source."

Cherny responded to this (though not to Steinberger directly), stating that the Claude team is "big fans of open source," and that this is more about engineering constraints. "Our systems are highly optimized for one kind of workload, and to serve as many people as possible with the most intelligent models, we are continuing to optimize that," he said.

Cherny also added, however, that if users want to cancel subscriptions, Anthropic is giving full refunds.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging that it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The long-awaited sequel to the cult movie Spaceballs now has a release date: April 23, 2027.

Spaceballs was released on June 24, 1987, making the Spaceballs 2 premiere nearly 40 years later.

Original writer-director Mel Brooks officially announced Spaceballs 2 last year, with Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, and Daphne Zuniga reprising their roles. Now, Amazon MGM Studios has announced the actual release date ahead of CinemaCon 2026, exclusively for Deadline.

From there, we really only know the details that were released last year, like that Josh Greenbaum (Will and Harper) is directing, and the script is written by Josh Gad, Benji Samit, and Dan Hernandez. Gad is also expected to star, along with Keke Palmer.

While Netflix prices seem to keep rising in the United States, the streaming giant may have to reverse that trend in Italy.

On Friday, a Rome court ruled that Netflix's price increases over the last seven years were unlawful, and that the streamer must refund its Italian customers, Reuters reported. Netflix apparently violated Italy's Consumer Code by changing the subscription price without a valid reason. Specifically, the ruling states that Netflix breached this code in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2024, according to Euro News.

SEE ALSO: Victim of Jeffrey Epstein files class-action lawsuit against Google

Each subscriber will be entitled to a reduction in their current subscription price and reimbursement of applicable past charges. Some customers could even get further compensation, Reuters reported.

Netflix told Reuters it will appeal the decision, and "We take consumer rights very seriously and believe our terms have always ​complied with Italian laws and practice."

The lawsuit was originally filed by consumer group Movimento Consumatori, or Consumer Movement. In a press release on Saturday, the group responded to Netflix's statement.

"If Netflix intends to put the rights of its subscribers and consumers before all other interests, it should respect the Rome Court ruling and provide refunds, thus saving itself from massive class-action and individual litigation that will last years, damaging its reputation and resulting trust," said Movimento Consumatori president Alessandro Mostaccio in a translated statement.

According to Mostaccio, over 25,000 Italian Netflix consumers have contacted Movimento Consumatori about the price hikes.

Movimento Consumatori's lawyers for the case, Paolo Fiorio and Corrado Pinna, stated, "It is surprising that Netflix defends its actions as compliant not only with the law but also with Italian market practices," in a translated statement. "In Europe and in Italy, market practices cannot derogate from the law, which, as the Court found, were violated by Netflix, which implemented unlawful price increases."

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 5, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 5, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 5 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 5 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 5 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Another week, another Saturday Night Live that isn't afraid to punch up at President Donald Trump over the Epstein files and whatever else happened in the last few days.

This time, Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che aimed at now-former Attorney General Pam Bondi and how Trump reportedly fired her over the Epstein files, "because the only person Trump has ever trusted to handle the Epstein situation is a prison guard with the cameras off," Jost said. Cue groans from the audience.

Jost didn't stop there; he joked that he actually understood Trump because he'd also be mad if someone "took a Sharpie and drew all over favorite memories," referring to the heavy redactions of the files.

Of course, the anchors didn't hesitate to also bring up the scandal regarding former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's husband and his photos wearing fake breasts as a part of a "bimbofication" fetish. Che mentioned that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth quoted an airman saying the only thing they need in Iran is "bigger bombs."

"Got you covered," said Che. "How about Kristi Noem's husband?"

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who watch NFL football.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Sideline

• Green: Feathery mascots

• Blue: QBs

• Purple: Misspelled NBA teams

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Things on an NFL Sideline

• Green: NFL Teams with Bird Nicknames

• Blue: NFC Quarterbacks

• Purple: Anagrams of NBA Teams

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #559 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Things on an NFL Sideline - BENCHES, CHAINS, COACHES, MEDICAL TENT

• NFL Teams with Bird Nicknames - CARDINALS, EAGLES, RAVENS, SEAHAWKS

• NFC Quarterbacks - HURTS, LOVE, PURDY, YOUNG

• Anagrams of NBA Teams - HATE, PARROTS, SCRAPE, THRONES

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

TL;DR: Bring home a tiny, but mighty MacBook Air for just $199.97 (reg. $999) now through April 19, while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97
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The MacBook Air may be tiny, but it’s still mighty. You shouldn’t underestimate Apple’s lightest laptop — it still packs plenty of power and a whole lot of storage in its sleek and portable frame. Right now, you can bring one home for a surprisingly light price — just $199.97 (reg. $999) — now through April 19.

Don’t sleep on the MacBook Air. This Apple device may be easy to take anywhere, weighing in at just 2.96 pounds, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on power. A 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM let you tackle even the lengthiest to-do lists, and the 13.3-inch widescreen display is equipped with Intel HD Graphics 6000, allowing you to see everything in high-quality images with smooth streaming capabilities.

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If you like to store files locally, you’ll have plenty of space thanks to 128GB of flash storage, along with room to download your favorite apps, too. You’ll enjoy easy connectivity thanks to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, letting you go online and transfer files. And you won’t be hunting for an electrical outlet mid-day — this MacBook Air has an impressive 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Wondering how you’re saving $800 on this Apple laptop? It comes with a Grade A/B refurbished rating, which means it may arrive with light scuffing on the bevel or case, or light scratches or dents on the body, but there will be no dents, cracks, or missing parts.

Regularly $999, get this quality refurbished MacBook Air for only $199.97 (reg. $999) now through April 19.

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TL;DR: See what a brand new operating system can do with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license, on sale now for $12.97 (reg. $199) through May 3.

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Working more efficiently doesn’t always mean changing up your workflow. Sometimes, you just need some new tools — like a sparkling new operating system. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro can seriously upgrade your daily routine, as it was created with the modern professional in mind. Right now, you can give your old PC this refresh for just $12.97 (reg. $199) until May 3.

If you haven’t invested in a new computer in a while, we have a great hack for you that costs less than your lunch. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro can rejuvenate your old PC with new tools and features, and right now, you can get it for just $13.

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Microsoft Windows 11 Pro was made for today’s professional, with tools that help streamline your workflow. Take advantage of a powerful search experience, easy redocking, snap layouts, and a seamless, easy-to-use interface.

Aside from giving you new features, Windows 11 Pro also includes helpful apps like Teams, to help you stay connected with coworkers, friends, and family. You’ll also get access to Copilot — Microsoft’s very own AI-powered assistant — right on your desktop. Ask questions, get help with tasks, change settings, summarize web pages, or even let Copilot open your apps.

If you haven’t been taking your cybersecurity as seriously as you should, don’t worry. Windows 11 Pro takes matters into its own hands, giving it a boost with a biometric login, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection.

Normally $199, you can now upgrade your PC with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for only $12.97 through May 3.

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A spigot.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPOUT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A leg exercise.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

LUNGE

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fire.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FLAME

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To smash into.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CRASH

Final Hurdle hint

Gleam

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SHINE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love old-school detectives.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 5, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Science terms

• Green: Old-school detective

• Blue: Turn over

• Purple: Muck

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Atomic structure terms

• Green: Parts of a Sherlock Holmes costume

• Blue: Things to flip

• Purple: Starting with synonyms for "Slush"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1029 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Atomic structure terms: ELECTRON, NUCLEUS, ORBIT, SHELL

• Parts of a Sherlock Holmes costume: DEERSTALKER, MAGNIFYING GLASS, PIPE, VIOLIN

• Things to flip: COIN, LIGHT SWITCH, PANCAKE, THE BIRD

• Starting with synonyms for "Slush": GOOGOL, MUSHROOM, PASTEURIZE, PULPIT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 5, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an animal lover.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 5, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Pouch perfect

The words are related to animals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe pouch-bearing animals.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Marsupials.

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NYT Strands word list for April 5

• Wombat

• Koala

• Bilby

• Marsupials

• Opossum

• Kangaroo

• Wallaby

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're diplomatic.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 5, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 5, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A messenger.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ENVOY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

RuPaul's Drag Race fans are calling out the show over alleged use of AI-generated artwork.

SEE ALSO: Put Dr. Kelson from '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

The artwork appears in Season 18, episode 14, when host RuPaul Charles "paints" portraits of contestants Juicy Love Dion, Myki Meeks, Darlene Mitchell, and Nini Coco. Viewers were quick to point out that the portraits fell into the uncanny valley of AI slop, from the faint yellow filter on some images to some strange incongruities, like Juicy Love Dion's boa having three separate ends.

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On social media, fans and even former contestants like Season 16's Plasma expressed frustration over the show's possible use of AI. After all, RuPaul's Drag Race is a celebration of the art form of drag. Allegedly using AI feels like a betrayal of the very authenticity the series hopes to promote.

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This is not the first time RuPaul's Drag Race has come under fire for its use of AI. Last year, RuPaul's Drag Race released a short film on its YouTube channel titled "Jinkx & Plasma’s Gay Adventure!" The short featured AI-generated recreations of iconic RuPaul's Drag Race moments, resulting in major criticism from fans. It has since been made private on YouTube.

Mashable has reached out to RuPaul's Drag Race production company, World of Wonder, for further comment.

Harassing bots with “funny violence.” Confiding about a broken heart. Chatting with a block of cheese. Filling a void of loneliness.