Connections #526 was the New York Times puzzle for November 18, 2024. Use the graduated clues below if you want to solve it yourself; the full groups and answers are after the spoiler warning.
Hints for Connections #526
Try these clues in order, stopping when you have enough to find the groups. They paraphrase the puzzle’s themes without naming the categories or giving away the answer words.
- Think of tools and products used for salon grooming and styling.
- Look for recurring costs many households pay.
- Consider creatures and objects associated with spots or pips.
- Complete a familiar phrase ending in “crab.”
Spoiler warning: Connections answers for November 18, 2024
The complete solution to puzzle #526 is below.
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Used in hair care | COMB, DRYER, HAIRSPRAY, ROLLERS | Each is used for grooming or styling hair. |
| Monthly expenses | GAS, INTERNET, PHONE, RENT | Each can be a recurring household bill or expense. |
| Things with spots | DALMATIAN, DIE, DOMINO, LADYBUG | A Dalmatian and ladybug have spots; a die and domino have spots, or pips. |
| ___ crab | FIDDLER, HERMIT, HORSESHOE, SPIDER | Each word forms a familiar name or phrase when placed before “crab.” |
The red herring that can look like Monopoly
Forbes writer Paul Tassi reported being drawn to a possible Monopoly link among HORSESHOE, RENT, DIE, and GAS. It is a tempting association, but it is not one of the puzzle’s groups: those words belong to four different categories in the published solution. The apparent link is a reminder to check that all four words fit a precise shared connection, not just a game or setting that comes to mind.
How Connections works
Forbes describes Connections as a 16-word grid that players divide into four groups of four based on shared links. The words can be shuffled, and an incorrect guess costs a life; four mistakes end the game. These are general gameplay details reported by Forbes, not a verification of current official instructions.
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