If you’re someone who enjoys solving word puzzles and stretching your brain each morning, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the increasingly popular Forbes Connections game. It’s fun, challenging, and addictive — and sometimes, you just need a little nudge in the right direction. That’s where Forbes Connections hints come in handy.
Whether you’re a first-time player or a daily regular who occasionally gets stumped, this guide will walk you through how the puzzle works, why it’s so engaging, and how to use hints (without spoiling the fun) to get better at solving each day’s grid.
What is Forbes Connections?
Forbes Connections is a daily word association game in which players are presented with a grid of 16 words. The goal? Group the words into four sets of four based on a hidden connection or theme.
The connections could be:
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Words that rhyme
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Items in a category (like desserts, countries, or tools)
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Related terms (like things that fly or computer parts)
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Puns or plays on words
Sounds easy enough, right? Not always. Some words have multiple meanings. Others are meant to throw you off. That’s why so many people turn to Forbes Connections hints for a little help before running out of guesses.
How to Play
Each game starts with 16 words arranged in a 4×4 grid. Your job is to:
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Identify a group of four words that are connected.
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Select and submit that group.
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Once correct, those words disappear, and you work with the remaining ones.
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You have only four chances to make mistakes, so each guess matters.
Each puzzle has one “easy” category, one “medium,” one “hard,” and one that’s intentionally tricky — often containing wordplay or obscure themes.
What Are Forbes Connections Hints?
Forbes Connections hints are clues — subtle or direct — that guide you toward discovering the correct groupings. These hints might tell you the theme of a group (“types of fish” or “movie villains”), or they might point out a misleading word that doesn’t belong where you think it does.
Here’s how hints can be used without ruining the game:
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General nudges: These give you an idea of what to look for without revealing the exact words.
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Category descriptions: A short hint like “colors” or “types of dance” can help.
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Word usage examples: Sometimes, placing a word in a sentence shows its true meaning.
The key is to look for hints that preserve the spirit of the puzzle while giving your brain something to work with.
Why Use Hints?
Some people feel like using hints is cheating, but it’s not. In fact, hints are useful learning tools — especially when you’re starting out or when a puzzle’s connections are particularly obscure.
Using Forbes Connections hints can help you:
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Learn new word associations
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Spot patterns more easily
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Avoid frustrating guesswork
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Improve over time with practice
Think of hints as gentle coaching, not answers.
Where to Find Daily Forbes Connections Hints
Here are a few places you can consistently find helpful, spoiler-free hints:
Forbes Game Page Itself
Sometimes, Forbes offers small clues or labels the difficulty of certain groupings. It’s worth paying attention to any built-in guidance.
Reddit & Puzzle Forums
Subreddits like r/wordgames and r/puzzles often have daily threads where users share hints and ideas. You’ll usually find community-generated clues that are clever and non-spoiling.
Puzzle Blogs and Fan Sites
Several independent blogs now offer daily Forbes Connections hints — often breaking down one group to help solvers gain momentum without giving away the full solution.
Smart Strategies to Solve the Puzzle
Even without direct hints, here are some pro tips to help you get better at solving Forbes Connections:
Look for Obvious Matches First
Start with what feels easy. Groupings like fruit, colors, or months tend to stand out. Getting one correct early gives you more clarity with the remaining words.
Be Careful with Words That Have Multiple Meanings
Words like “Mercury” (planet, metal, car) or “Turkey” (bird, country) can confuse solvers. Think about alternative meanings before grouping.
Say the Words Out Loud
Sometimes hearing them helps. Rhyming groups or homophones stand out more when spoken.
Check for Wordplay
Some of the hardest puzzles involve puns, idioms, or words that look unrelated but share a grammatical trait (like all ending in -ing or -tion).
Don’t Overthink It
The best groupings usually feel natural. If you’re forcing a connection, it might not be the right one.
Sample Hints (Without Spoilers)
Let’s say you’re stuck on a puzzle. You notice the following words: Flamenco, Ballet, Salsa, Tango.
A good hint might be: “These words will make you move your feet.”
You can probably figure out the group without being told it’s “Dance Styles.”
Or if the words are Ruby, Python, Java, Go, a hint like “Not just snakes — these power your apps” can push you toward “Programming Languages.”
That’s the power of a well-crafted hint.
Why People Are Hooked on Forbes Connections
The game strikes a perfect balance between logic and language. It feels fresh every day, and even if you don’t win, you learn something new.
And thanks to communities that provide helpful Forbes Connections hints, more and more players are improving their puzzle-solving skills and having more fun along the way.
Final Thoughts
If you’re hooked on Forbes Connections (and let’s face it, many of us are), using daily hints isn’t just smart — it’s part of the fun. Hints help you grow as a solver, expose you to new categories, and turn frustration into that satisfying “aha!” moment we all love.
So don’t hesitate to seek out Forbes Connections hints. They might just make your daily word game habit more enjoyable, insightful, and rewarding.
FAQs
Do hints spoil the puzzle?
Good hints don’t give away answers — they just point you in the right direction. Think of them as friendly guidance.
Can I play older Forbes Connections puzzles?
As of now, there’s no full archive, but some sites and blogs do catalog past puzzles for learning purposes.
Is there an official leaderboard or scoring?
No, Forbes Connections is a casual game with no time or score tracking. It’s all about personal challenge and improvement. See More