A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #43
hints & answers for July 24, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows July 24, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, I, I and L. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FURIOUS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SYNONYMS FOR ANGRY

Reveal all four words
  • FURIOUS
  • INCENSED
  • IRATE
  • LIVID

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Picture their usual colour, rather than their purpose.

Show one word

BANANA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW

Reveal all four words
  • BANANA
  • CANARY
  • SCHOOL BUS
  • SUNFLOWER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, G, P and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BOOBY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MARINE BIRDS

Reveal all four words
  • BOOBY
  • GULL
  • PELICAN
  • PUFFIN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

BEACH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ BOYS

Reveal all four words
  • BEACH
  • BEASTIE
  • HARDY
  • LOST

Each entry comes before "BOYS" to form a word, expression or name: BEACH → BEACH BOYS; BEASTIE → BEASTIE BOYS; HARDY → HARDY BOYS; LOST → LOST BOYS.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: SYNONYMS FOR ANGRY
  • Green: THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW
  • Blue: MARINE BIRDS
  • Purple: ___ BOYS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SYNONYMS FOR ANGRY

FURIOUS · INCENSED · IRATE · LIVID

Green

THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW

BANANA · CANARY · SCHOOL BUS · SUNFLOWER

Blue

MARINE BIRDS

BOOBY · GULL · PELICAN · PUFFIN

Purple

___ BOYS

BEACH · BEASTIE · HARDY · LOST

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.