A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #517
hints & answers for November 9, 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 9, 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 B, G, T and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BENT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CONTORTED

Reveal all four words
  • BENT
  • GNARLY
  • TWISTED
  • WARPED

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

LICK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SMALLEST AMOUNT

Reveal all four words
  • LICK
  • OUNCE
  • SHRED
  • TRACE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

EXPONENT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ALGEBRA TERMS

Reveal all four words
  • EXPONENT
  • POWER
  • RADICAL
  • ROOT

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, P, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BATH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS BEFORE “ROOM” TO MEAN LAVATORY

Reveal all four words
  • BATH
  • POWDER
  • REST
  • THRONE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: CONTORTED
  • Green: SMALLEST AMOUNT
  • Blue: ALGEBRA TERMS
  • Purple: WORDS BEFORE “ROOM” TO MEAN LAVATORY

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CONTORTED

BENT · GNARLY · TWISTED · WARPED

Green

SMALLEST AMOUNT

LICK · OUNCE · SHRED · TRACE

Blue

ALGEBRA TERMS

EXPONENT · POWER · RADICAL · ROOT

Purple

WORDS BEFORE “ROOM” TO MEAN LAVATORY

BATH · POWDER · REST · THRONE

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.