A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #496
hints & answers for October 19, 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 October 19, 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 G, I, P and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GENERATE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BRING ABOUT

Reveal all four words
  • GENERATE
  • INSPIRE
  • PROMPT
  • PROVOKE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CANDLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE OFTEN SCENTED

Reveal all four words
  • CANDLE
  • INCENSE
  • LOTION
  • SOAP

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with I, J, N and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

INSULT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT MIGHT STING

Reveal all four words
  • INSULT
  • JELLYFISH
  • NETTLE
  • WASP

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CIVILIZATION belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES

Reveal all four words
  • CIVILIZATION
  • HALO
  • MADDEN
  • METROID
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BRING ABOUT
  • Green: THINGS THAT ARE OFTEN SCENTED
  • Blue: THINGS THAT MIGHT STING
  • Purple: VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BRING ABOUT

GENERATE · INSPIRE · PROMPT · PROVOKE

Green

THINGS THAT ARE OFTEN SCENTED

CANDLE · INCENSE · LOTION · SOAP

Blue

THINGS THAT MIGHT STING

INSULT · JELLYFISH · NETTLE · WASP

Purple

VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES

CIVILIZATION · HALO · MADDEN · METROID

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.