A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #163
hints & answers for November 21, 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 21, 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 C, F, M and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CANINE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TYPES OF TEETH

Reveal all four words
  • CANINE
  • FANG
  • MOLAR
  • TUSK

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHIC belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FASHIONABLE

Reveal all four words
  • CHIC
  • HIP
  • HOT
  • IN

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, R, V and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FLOSS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DANCE MOVES

Reveal all four words
  • FLOSS
  • ROBOT
  • VOGUE
  • WORM

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

LEECH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT SUCK

Reveal all four words
  • LEECH
  • STRAW
  • VACUUM
  • VAMPIRE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: TYPES OF TEETH
  • Green: FASHIONABLE
  • Blue: DANCE MOVES
  • Purple: THINGS THAT SUCK

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

TYPES OF TEETH

CANINE · FANG · MOLAR · TUSK

Green

FASHIONABLE

CHIC · HIP · HOT · IN

Blue

DANCE MOVES

FLOSS · ROBOT · VOGUE · WORM

Purple

THINGS THAT SUCK

LEECH · STRAW · VACUUM · VAMPIRE

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.