A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #513
hints & answers for November 5, 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 November 5, 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, P and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CATERPILLAR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE FUZZY

Reveal all four words
  • CATERPILLAR
  • FLEECE
  • PEACH
  • PIPE CLEANER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CLAM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH SHELLS

Reveal all four words
  • CLAM
  • EGG
  • NUT
  • TURTLE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with D, D, O and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DONKEY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FIGURES IN “SHREK”

Reveal all four words
  • DONKEY
  • DRAGON
  • OGRE
  • PRINCESS

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

CARPET belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MAGIC ___

Reveal all four words
  • CARPET
  • KINGDOM
  • MARKER
  • MUSHROOM

Each entry comes after "MAGIC" to form a word, expression or name: CARPET → MAGIC CARPET; KINGDOM → MAGIC KINGDOM; MARKER → MAGIC MARKER; MUSHROOM → MAGIC MUSHROOM.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: THINGS THAT ARE FUZZY
  • Green: THINGS WITH SHELLS
  • Blue: FIGURES IN “SHREK”
  • Purple: MAGIC ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

THINGS THAT ARE FUZZY

CATERPILLAR · FLEECE · PEACH · PIPE CLEANER

Green

THINGS WITH SHELLS

CLAM · EGG · NUT · TURTLE

Blue

FIGURES IN “SHREK”

DONKEY · DRAGON · OGRE · PRINCESS

Purple

MAGIC ___

CARPET · KINGDOM · MARKER · MUSHROOM

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.