Fans of The New York Times' popular word-grouping puzzle can find help here for Thursday's edition, with hints and the complete solution for Connections game number 1,145.

Connections challenges players to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four groups of four, with each group sharing a hidden connection. The puzzle, which debuted in beta in 2023 before becoming a permanent addition to the Times' games lineup, ranks the four categories by difficulty, typically presented in order from most straightforward to most challenging. Thursday's puzzle blended straightforward wordplay with trickier conceptual links, according to puzzle coverage from multiple outlets that track the daily game.

Players looking for guidance before jumping to the full answer can use the following category hints to narrow down their thinking. One group centers on words describing someone who is truthful and dependable, evoking qualities associated with honesty and moral uprightness. A second group involves activities and games that share a common physical element: multiple balls being used simultaneously, whether in casual party games, gambling-adjacent pastimes or coordination-based physical activities. A third group........

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