This is the archived answer guide for Connections puzzle #544, dated December 6, 2024—not the current daily puzzle. Start with the hints below if you want to solve it yourself, then open the answer groups when you’re ready.
Hints for Connections #544
- Yellow: These words can mean to confuse someone.
- Green: Think of words for a harmful spell or curse.
- Blue: These are familiar names of characters from Toy Story.
- Purple: Look for informal word endings that appear in compound words and slang.
How to approach the word bank
The 16 words are PUZZLE, MANIA, BUZZ, GATE, CORE, HEX, VEX, REX, SLINKY, STUMP, POX, PERPLEX, JINX, HAMM, SPELL, and PILLED.
One useful first move is to test the direct synonyms for “confuse”: PERPLEX, PUZZLE, STUMP, and VEX. The remaining curse words are HEX, JINX, POX, and SPELL. The character-name group is recognizable once you identify BUZZ, HAMM, REX, and SLINKY; the four leftovers form the purple wordplay group.
Watch for the misleading X-ending pattern: HEX, VEX, POX, and JINX look like a set, but VEX belongs with the confusion synonyms. Check that each proposed group has a coherent shared meaning rather than relying on spelling alone.
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Connections #544 answers
| Color | Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | BAFFLE | PERPLEX, PUZZLE, STUMP, VEX | Each can mean to confuse or leave someone unable to find an answer. |
| Green | CURSE | HEX, JINX, POX, SPELL | Each can refer to a curse or harmful spell. |
| Blue | “TOY STORY” CHARACTERS, FAMILIARLY | BUZZ, HAMM, REX, SLINKY | Familiar forms of the names Buzz Lightyear, Hamm, Rex, and Slinky Dog. |
| Purple | COLLOQUIAL SUFFIXES | CORE, GATE, MANIA, PILLED | These are informal endings used in compound words and slang; the grouping is wordplay, not a formal linguistic classification. |
The solution groups are corroborated by TechRadar’s December 6, 2024 guide and Try Hard Guides’ Connections answer guide.
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