Looking for today's Connections answer for puzzle #414 of July 29, which is harder than yesterday's answer, this puzzle from Connections Companion has a difficulty rating of 3.3 out of 5.

We update our Connections clues and hints daily. And if the hints aren't enough, you can see all four answers along with the category title and related words. In addition, for those of you reading this in a different time zone, I've included a reflection on yesterday's puzzle, #413.

There are spoilers for connection #414. Only those who want to know the answer to today's connection should read on.

Alternatively, see our NYT Connections How to Play Guide for tips on how to solve the puzzle without our help.

While today's wordle solution guide recommends the best wordle starting words as a strategy, the Connections solution depends on identifying the categories that are connected from the 16 words. The difficulty of each category is represented by a color, with yellow being the easiest grouping and purple the most difficult. Hints are helpful as the answer is displayed after four wrong guesses.

If you need a hint to help you solve the groupings, here are each theme in order of difficulty:

If you read these hints, you should at least find the answer to today's connection. If not, please continue reading for larger hints. Also, if you only want the answer, scroll down further.

Here's a bigger clue: Today's puzzle has to do with things that start with the letter “S”. That includes sports (after the Olympics?).

Examine all the options before sticking to one path.

Now, what is the answer to today's 414th game connection?

Drum roll, please.

With the Olympics in full swing, today's yellow category was easy. The Coliseum and Arena were easy, and I thought the courts might fit in somewhere, but once those were ruled out, the Bowl and Dome remained the only clear choices.

Next up was the green category, and once I realized that Alley, Court, and Drive had nothing to do with sports, I was on the right track.

Today I stumbled upon the blue and purple categories. Libra came to mind as a constellation, but that quickly went out the window, as the only thing that could possibly fall into this category was fish. Further complicating things, I had no idea what solfege was. But I do understand the double meaning of both. Too clever for me.

Are you reading this late in the day? According to Connections Companion, the difficulty level was 2.7 out of 5.

I was able to crack the green category first with almost only one clue. I had only heard tortoiseshell used to describe a cat with glasses, and once I started thinking along those lines, it was easy to pick out other kinds of feline friends. Isn't it funny how dog breeds have so many different names, but when people ask what kind of cat you have, you say orange? (That's why his name is Cheeto.)

I first thought Spine and Jitter or Nerve might be related, but Page was a big flag that we could be talking about a book here (or a pager, but that seems unlikely). So Jacket and Cover rounded out the yellow category.

But my initial thinking helped me understand the blue category, which includes synonyms for anxiety. I am well aware of this.

The purple category puzzled me until I came up with the name of that category. Really, Connection Crew? Beethoven? Peacock? Dad gags?