A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #392
hints & answers for July 7, 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 July 7, 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 C, F, M and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CONDENSE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CHANGE STATES OF MATTER

Reveal all four words
  • CONDENSE
  • FREEZE
  • MELT
  • VAPORIZE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Someone or something brought in to take over.

Show one word

ALTERNATE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

REPLACEMENT

Reveal all four words
  • ALTERNATE
  • BACKUP
  • COVER
  • SUB

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COPPER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SLANGY NAMES FOR PROFESSIONS

Reveal all four words
  • COPPER
  • HACK
  • SHRINK
  • SUIT

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FANTASY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MARIAH CAREY NUMBER ONE HITS

Reveal all four words
  • FANTASY
  • HERO
  • HONEY
  • SOMEDAY
Show categories only
  • Yellow: CHANGE STATES OF MATTER
  • Green: REPLACEMENT
  • Blue: SLANGY NAMES FOR PROFESSIONS
  • Purple: MARIAH CAREY NUMBER ONE HITS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CHANGE STATES OF MATTER

CONDENSE · FREEZE · MELT · VAPORIZE

Green

REPLACEMENT

ALTERNATE · BACKUP · COVER · SUB

Blue

SLANGY NAMES FOR PROFESSIONS

COPPER · HACK · SHRINK · SUIT

Purple

MARIAH CAREY NUMBER ONE HITS

FANTASY · HERO · HONEY · SOMEDAY

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.