A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #164
hints & answers for November 22, 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 22, 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, G, P and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CANYON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

AREAS BETWEEN MOUNTAINS AND HILLS

Reveal all four words
  • CANYON
  • GULCH
  • PASS
  • RAVINE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Approach a meal as though you have not eaten all day.

Show one word

GORGE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EAT VORACIOUSLY

Reveal all four words
  • GORGE
  • GULP
  • SCARF
  • WOLF

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

APPLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FEATURED IN “SNOW WHITE”

Reveal all four words
  • APPLE
  • BASHFUL
  • MIRROR
  • QUEEN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHEN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

“C” + BIRD

Reveal all four words
  • CHEN
  • CLARK
  • COWL
  • CRAVEN
Show categories only
  • Yellow: AREAS BETWEEN MOUNTAINS AND HILLS
  • Green: EAT VORACIOUSLY
  • Blue: FEATURED IN “SNOW WHITE”
  • Purple: “C” + BIRD

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

AREAS BETWEEN MOUNTAINS AND HILLS

CANYON · GULCH · PASS · RAVINE

Green

EAT VORACIOUSLY

GORGE · GULP · SCARF · WOLF

Blue

FEATURED IN “SNOW WHITE”

APPLE · BASHFUL · MIRROR · QUEEN

Purple

“C” + BIRD

CHEN · CLARK · COWL · CRAVEN

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.