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The New York Times Connections puzzle dated May 15, 2024, is puzzle #339. Its four groups are legislation, grassland, forthrightness, and car-company names with one letter removed. This is a historical answer—not the puzzle for today’s date.
Hints for Connections #339
- Gentle hint: One group is made up of types of open land; another contains words for speaking plainly.
- Category hints: Think of a piece of legislation, a grassland, being forthright, and car companies altered by removing a letter.
Connections #339 answers for May 15, 2024
Spoilers below: The complete grid and answers follow.
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| BIT OF LEGISLATION | ACT, BILL, MEASURE, RESOLUTION |
| GRASSLAND | MEADOW, PLAIN, PRAIRIE, SAVANNA |
| FORTHRIGHT | DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, STRAIGHT |
| CAR COMPANIES MINUS LETTER | AURA, BUCK, DOGE, HODA |
How the groups connect
BIT OF LEGISLATION
ACT, BILL, MEASURE, and RESOLUTION can each refer to a form or item of legislation.
GRASSLAND
MEADOW, PLAIN, PRAIRIE, and SAVANNA are kinds of grassland.
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FORTHRIGHT
DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, and STRAIGHT can each describe someone or something candid and direct.
CAR COMPANIES MINUS LETTER
Remove one letter from each car-company name to get a word in the grid: ACURA becomes AURA, BUICK becomes BUCK, DODGE becomes DOGE, and HONDA becomes HODA. This is the most wordplay-heavy group.
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Ways to approach a Connections grid
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on a shared link. A connection may be straightforward, but wordplay and misleading overlaps can make a plausible cluster incomplete. For a general overview of the game and solving tips, see The New York Times Connections game and Tom’s Guide’s Connections hints and answers guide.
- Scan for clear clusters. Note words that appear to share a subject or meaning, without committing too early.
- Check every fit. A proposed group needs all four words to match the same idea; a near-match may be a deliberate distraction.
- Look beyond literal meanings. Consider synonyms, alternate meanings, and transformations such as removing a letter.
- Use hints in stages. Start with a broad clue, move to the category label if needed, and reveal the full group only when you want the answer.
The May 15, 2024 #339 groupings are corroborated by two independent answer archives: CNET’s May 15, 2024 guide and Forbes’ May 15, 2024 guide.
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