A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #158
hints & answers for November 16, 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 November 16, 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 B, H, N and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BULL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BALDERDASH

Reveal all four words
  • BULL
  • HOGWASH
  • NONSENSE
  • ROT

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with D, G, L and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DIRECT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HELM

Reveal all four words
  • DIRECT
  • GUIDE
  • LEAD
  • STEER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, D, F and M. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUFFALO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SINGLE/PLURAL ANIMALS

Reveal all four words
  • BUFFALO
  • DEER
  • FISH
  • MOOSE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

DANE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GREAT ___

Reveal all four words
  • DANE
  • LAKE
  • SEAL
  • WHITE

Each entry comes after "GREAT" to form a word, expression or name: DANE → GREAT DANE; LAKE → GREAT LAKE; SEAL → GREAT SEAL; WHITE → GREAT WHITE.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: BALDERDASH
  • Green: HELM
  • Blue: SINGLE/PLURAL ANIMALS
  • Purple: GREAT ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BALDERDASH

BULL · HOGWASH · NONSENSE · ROT

Green

HELM

DIRECT · GUIDE · LEAD · STEER

Blue

SINGLE/PLURAL ANIMALS

BUFFALO · DEER · FISH · MOOSE

Purple

GREAT ___

DANE · LAKE · SEAL · WHITE

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.