A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #542
hints & answers for December 4, 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 December 4, 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 D, G, L and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DIRECT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STEER

Reveal all four words
  • DIRECT
  • GUIDE
  • LEAD
  • SHEPHERD

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COMPASS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH NEEDLE/S

Reveal all four words
  • COMPASS
  • PINE TREE
  • SEWING KIT
  • TURNTABLE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Look among the characters in ancient legends.

Show one word

ATLAS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH

Reveal all four words
  • ATLAS
  • ECHO
  • HELEN
  • PAN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CANDLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR LAVATORY

Reveal all four words
  • CANDLE
  • JOHNSON
  • LOOFAH
  • TOILETRIES
Show categories only
  • Yellow: STEER
  • Green: THINGS WITH NEEDLE/S
  • Blue: FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH
  • Purple: STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR LAVATORY

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

STEER

DIRECT · GUIDE · LEAD · SHEPHERD

Green

THINGS WITH NEEDLE/S

COMPASS · PINE TREE · SEWING KIT · TURNTABLE

Blue

FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH

ATLAS · ECHO · HELEN · PAN

Purple

STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR LAVATORY

CANDLE · JOHNSON · LOOFAH · TOILETRIES

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.