A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #549
hints & answers for December 11, 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 11, 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 P, S, S and X. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

PARADISE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

UTOPIA

Reveal all four words
  • PARADISE
  • SEVENTH HEAVEN
  • SHANGRI-LA
  • XANADU

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

HAIRSPRAY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS YOU SHAKE

Reveal all four words
  • HAIRSPRAY
  • MAGIC 8 BALL
  • SALAD DRESSING
  • SNOWGLOBE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

JAZZERCISE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PROPER NOUN PORTMANTEAUX

Reveal all four words
  • JAZZERCISE
  • PARALYMPICS
  • POKÉMON
  • WIKIPEDIA

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

KETCHUM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR “FRIEND”

Reveal all four words
  • KETCHUM
  • PAYPAL
  • PRIMATE
  • ROSEBUD
Show categories only
  • Yellow: UTOPIA
  • Green: THINGS YOU SHAKE
  • Blue: PROPER NOUN PORTMANTEAUX
  • Purple: ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR “FRIEND”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

UTOPIA

PARADISE · SEVENTH HEAVEN · SHANGRI-LA · XANADU

Green

THINGS YOU SHAKE

HAIRSPRAY · MAGIC 8 BALL · SALAD DRESSING · SNOWGLOBE

Blue

PROPER NOUN PORTMANTEAUX

JAZZERCISE · PARALYMPICS · POKÉMON · WIKIPEDIA

Purple

ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR “FRIEND”

KETCHUM · PAYPAL · PRIMATE · ROSEBUD

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.