A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #352
hints & answers for May 28, 2024

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 May 28, 2024. 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 E, F, O and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

EASY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

AMENABLE

Reveal all four words
  • EASY
  • FLEXIBLE
  • OPEN
  • RECEPTIVE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

The spelling can be rearranged without adding anything.

Show one word

EVIL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ANAGRAMS

Reveal all four words
  • EVIL
  • LIVE
  • VEIL
  • VILE

The entries use the same letters in different orders.

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

AMAZING belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SPELLING BEE RANKS

Reveal all four words
  • AMAZING
  • BEGINNER
  • GENIUS
  • SOLID

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

LIT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ADJECTIVES FOR A CANDLE

Reveal all four words
  • LIT
  • SCENTED
  • WAXY
  • WICKED
Show categories only
  • Yellow: AMENABLE
  • Green: ANAGRAMS
  • Blue: SPELLING BEE RANKS
  • Purple: ADJECTIVES FOR A CANDLE

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

AMENABLE

EASY · FLEXIBLE · OPEN · RECEPTIVE

Green

ANAGRAMS

EVIL · LIVE · VEIL · VILE

Blue

SPELLING BEE RANKS

AMAZING · BEGINNER · GENIUS · SOLID

Purple

ADJECTIVES FOR A CANDLE

LIT · SCENTED · WAXY · WICKED

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.