Spoilers for Connections #279, dated March 16, 2024: the groups are words meaning “get smaller,” airline classes, ways to examine an applicant, and notable TV episodes. If you want to solve it yourself first, use the hints below before opening the answer key.
Hints for Connections #279
The March 16, 2024 puzzle was identified as #279 by Fortnite Insider’s answer guide. Its board contained 16 words. Start with these clues, from broad to more revealing:
- Four words can describe something becoming smaller.
- Four words are names for airline seating classes.
- Four words can describe ways to assess a job or other applicant.
- Four words name notable kinds of television episodes.
One useful connection to spot is that SCREEN and VET can both describe examining an applicant. The less obvious groupings include CONTRACT in the “get smaller” sense and PREMIUM among the airline classes.
Connections #279 answers
The guide gives these four groups:
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| GET SMALLER | CONTRACT, LESSEN, REDUCE, SHRINK |
| AIRLINE CLASSES | BUSINESS, COACH, FIRST, PREMIUM |
| EXAMINE, AS AN APPLICANT | CHECK, REVIEW, SCREEN, VET |
| NOTABLE TV EPISODES | FINALE, PILOT, PREMIERE, SPECIAL |
Why the groups can be tricky
CONTRACT means “get smaller”
CONTRACT can bring a legal agreement to mind, but in this group it is the verb meaning to become smaller. LESSEN, REDUCE, and SHRINK reinforce that sense.
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Premium belongs with airline classes
BUSINESS, COACH, FIRST, and PREMIUM are the airline-class grouping in the answer guide. PREMIUM is the word that can distract from the other three.
Screening an applicant
CHECK, REVIEW, SCREEN, and VET all fit the category “EXAMINE, AS AN APPLICANT.” SCREEN and VET are especially helpful anchors for finding this group.
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Four kinds of notable TV episodes
FINALE, PILOT, PREMIERE, and SPECIAL make up the final group. PILOT and PREMIERE can both suggest a first episode, but the answer guide places them together with FINALE and SPECIAL as notable episode types.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Connections works
According to the Fortnite Insider guide, Connections presents 16 words for sorting into four groups of four. Players submit a proposed group, and the guide says four mistakes are allowed. It describes the group colors as ranging from yellow, the most straightforward, to purple, the trickiest. These mechanics are attributed to that secondary guide; this answer does not make a claim about current access, subscriptions, or archive availability.
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