NYT Connections March 27, 2025 #655 Hints & Answers
Need help with the New York Times Connections puzzle for March 27, 2025? PuzzHelp offers a complete guide with progressive hints, full answers, and insights for today's NYT Connections game #655. Our step-by-step approach helps you learn category patterns and solve challenging word groups without spoiling the fun. Explore hints, answers, and interesting facts about each category below.
Today's Connections Hints
General Hints
Click to reveal a helpful hint about each category in today's game.
One Word from Each Category
Click to reveal one word from each color group to help you get started.
Today's Connections Answers
AFFECT
MOVE, REACH, SWAY, TOUCH
YOU GOT IT!
BINGO, CORRECT, DING, RIGHT
SLANG FOR MONEY
CHANGE, GREEN, PAPER, SCRATCH
OBJECTS WITH THE PREFIX "MICRO-"
CHIP, PHONE, SCOPE, WAVE
Answer Explanations
Word-by-Word Analysis
MOVE
To cause someone to feel strong emotions, often sympathy or sadness
REACH
To make contact with someone emotionally or intellectually
SWAY
To influence someone's opinions or decisions
TOUCH
To affect someone emotionally, often in a meaningful way
The word 'affect' has a fascinating dual nature in English. As a verb, it means to influence something, but as a noun in psychology, 'affect' refers to the experience of feeling or emotion. This subtle distinction between 'affect' (the noun) and 'effect' (typically a noun meaning 'result') is one of the most common usage errors in English writing.
Word-by-Word Analysis
BINGO
An exclamation used when someone has guessed correctly or achieved a sudden realization
CORRECT
Explicitly stating that someone's answer or understanding is accurate
DING
A sound effect often used in game shows or educational settings to indicate a correct answer
RIGHT
Confirming that someone's statement or answer is accurate
The exclamation 'Bingo!' originated from the popular game of chance, but its usage as an indicator of correctness or sudden realization entered common vernacular around the mid-20th century. The game itself was developed in 1929 as 'Beano' and renamed by toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe after he heard someone accidentally yell 'Bingo!' instead of 'Beano!' when they won.
Word-by-Word Analysis
CHANGE
Coins or small denominations of money, especially those returned after paying for something with a larger sum
GREEN
Slang for U.S. dollar bills, referencing their predominant color
PAPER
Slang for paper money or banknotes as opposed to coins
SCRATCH
Casual slang term for money, particularly cash
The term 'scratch' as slang for money dates back to the 18th century and may have originated from the practice of scratching a tally on a surface to keep track of debts. By the early 20th century, it had become firmly established in American vernacular, appearing in works by authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald who used money slang to illustrate class distinctions during the Jazz Age.
Word-by-Word Analysis
CHIP
When prefixed with "micro-", refers to an integrated circuit etched on a small piece of semiconducting material
PHONE
With "micro-" prefix, it's a device that converts sound waves into electrical signals
SCOPE
As "microscope", an instrument used to see objects too small to be visible to the naked eye
WAVE
When "micro-" is added, it becomes a kitchen appliance that uses electromagnetic radiation to heat food
The prefix 'micro-' comes from the Greek 'mikros' meaning 'small,' but in scientific terms, it specifically denotes one-millionth (10^-6) of a unit. Ironically, a microwave oven doesn't actually use microwaves of this exact scale—it operates with electromagnetic waves that are roughly 12 centimeters long, which falls in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum (wavelengths between 1 millimeter and 1 meter).
Today's Red Herrings
Movement Terms
MOVE, SWAY, and REACH might initially seem to form a group about physical movement or gestures, potentially distracting from their emotional 'AFFECT' connection.
Response Words
Words like CORRECT, RIGHT, CHANGE, and MOVE could appear to be types of responses or adjustments, creating a false pattern.
Technology Terms
CHIP, PHONE, WAVE, and perhaps PAPER (as in computer papers/documents) might seem like a technology grouping without recognizing the 'micro-' connection.
Small Things
CHIP, CHANGE (coins), and potentially SCRATCH (as a small mark) could mislead players into thinking about small items rather than their intended categories.
Sensory Experiences
TOUCH, DING (sound), WAVE (visual/physical), and potentially GREEN (color) could create a false grouping based on different senses.
Today's Learning Moments
Linguistic Versatility
This puzzle highlights how many English words serve multiple functions—MOVE, TOUCH, and REACH can all be both physical actions and emotional influences, demonstrating the rich metaphorical nature of language.
Prefix Recognition
The purple category encourages players to consider common prefixes and how they transform standalone words into specific technical or scientific terms, improving word-building awareness.
Financial Vocabulary
The 'SLANG FOR MONEY' category introduces players to the diverse colloquial terminology used in financial contexts, reflecting how language evolves to discuss economic concepts informally.
Affirmation Patterns
The 'YOU GOT IT!' category reveals patterns in positive reinforcement language, showing both explicit (CORRECT, RIGHT) and implied or onomatopoeic (DING, BINGO) forms of affirmation.
Word Form Flexibility
Several words in this puzzle can function as multiple parts of speech (MOVE, TOUCH, RIGHT, CHANGE as both nouns and verbs), demonstrating English's flexible word usage patterns.
Spoiler Alert!
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