Looking for today's Connections answer for puzzle #227 on January 24 is easier than yesterday's and the difficulty level for this puzzle on Connections Companion is 24 out of 5

We update our Connections clues and hints daily And if the hints are not enough, see the four answers below, along with the category title and related words In addition, for those of you reading this in a different time zone, I have included a reflection on yesterday's puzzle #226

There are spoilers for Connection #227 Only those who want to know the answer to today's Connections 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

Now here's the bigger clue As you navigate today's riddle, don't be fooled by the apparent focus on technology Family bonds are as strong as the finest optics And pay attention to subtle changes The slightest change can mean a whole new expression

Now, what is the answer to today's 227th game of Connections?

Drum roll, please

The words Clock, Calculator, Calendar, and Camera immediately caught my attention today All of these digital assistants fit comfortably on my smartphone and bring structure to my chaotic days

Ahead of my gaze, the family call beckoned Mama, Dada, and Grammy were waving at me, trying to get my attention Should I add putty or poppy to this list? I once considered adding a multilingual twist, but logic prevailed

The blue categories materialized as if an eye chart were being gradually sharpened before my eyes All the elements that make up the human eye-the lens, iris, pupil, and cones-aligned and formed a distinct group

The result left me with a curious collection: Pate, Resume, Expose, and Rose When each word is adorned with an accent marker, its pronunciation and meaning are transformed, acquiring a continental sophistication With this insight, the purple category has been brilliantly deciphered

And so the puzzle was solved, a gallery of words that extends from pixel to pupil, from affection to expression

It is much later in the day when this text is read According to the Connections Companion, the difficulty level was 32 out of 5

Today's trip to the land of connections took me through a bustling marketplace, the chatter of commerce ringing in my ears Pocketfuls of coins in hand, I thought I had stumbled upon a fortune But as I counted pounds, buck, coins, sterling, bars, and dollars, I realized this was no simple transaction [Like a jeweler appraising gems, I stepped back and looked at the grid The three categories of Devise, Create, and Invent were mixed together, proving that Coin is not just a currency, but the last piece of the puzzle that the yellow category creates

A little peek through my fingers revealed At (@), Pound (#), Percent (%), and Dollar ($) These keyboard stalwarts, sitting above the numbers on my keys, were surely working hand in hand together to create the very blue category of the day

So it seems that the treasure trove of numismatic terms was only a romp Sterling, prime, quality, fine, these were not mere mint treasures, but adjectives of excellence, shining together as the green category

What remained were Time, Buck, Bar, and Torch These felt like nonconformists until they realized that they were connected by a common gesture of continuity Pass the bar, back, time, torch

As the clamor of the marketplace faded away, I emerged victorious from today's Connections Bazaar