NYT Connections #490 is the Sunday, October 13, 2024 puzzle. The 16 words split into four groups: things made of keratin, Road Runner cartoon staples, kinds of pants, and words that precede “roll.” Use the hints below before revealing the full solution.
Connections #490 word grid
Here are all 16 entries from the October 13 puzzle:
- CARGO
- BOULDER
- CLAW
- HAMMER
- ANVIL
- HORN
- CALIFORNIA
- COYOTE
- EGG
- STIRRUP
- DRUM
- TNT
- CAPRI
- HOOF
- HONOR
- NAIL
Progressive hints for October 13
Try each clue before moving to the next. The game’s colors indicate difficulty: yellow is easiest, followed by green, blue and purple.
Yellow hint
Think of a hard body part or body structure.
Green hint
Think of the words and objects associated with “Meep meep!” from the Road Runner cartoons.
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Blue hint
These are things you wear. Some are less familiar names for pants styles.
Purple hint
Complete a phrase with the word “roll.” One clue is what a ball would do on a slope.
Answers and explanations
Spoiler warning: the complete groups are below.
| Color | Group | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | MADE OF KERATIN | CLAW, HOOF, HORN, NAIL | These are hard body parts or structures made primarily from keratin. |
| Green | ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES | ANVIL, BOULDER, COYOTE, TNT | The objects and character are recurring elements of Road Runner cartoons. |
| Blue | KINDS OF PANTS | CAPRI, CARGO, HAMMER, STIRRUP | Each word names a pants style: capri pants, cargo pants, hammer pants and stirrup pants. |
| Purple | ___ ROLL | CALIFORNIA, DRUM, EGG, HONOR | Each entry forms a familiar phrase with “roll”: California roll, drum roll, egg roll and honor roll. |
How to spot the groups
Start with the literal body-part category
CLAW, HOOF, HORN and NAIL share a physical property rather than a phrase pattern. Once those four are removed, the remaining words become easier to parse.
Use the Road Runner reference
ANVIL, BOULDER, COYOTE and TNT point to the slapstick chase cartoons. The Coyote is the character; the other three are familiar hazards or props in the series.
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Watch for obscure clothing terms
CAPRI and CARGO are immediately recognizable, while HAMMER and STIRRUP are the less obvious entries. “Hammer pants” and “stirrup pants” complete the clothing group.
Test common phrase completions
The final four words are not one semantic category. Add “roll” after each: California roll, drum roll, egg roll and honor roll. This phrase-completion pattern is the puzzle’s purple group.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play
Connections #490 is the archived Sunday, October 13, 2024 edition of Connections, playable through the NYT Games site. The game presents 16 words and asks you to divide them into four groups of four.
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