Spoiler warning: The answer key below solves the archived NYT Connections puzzle for Sunday, April 21, 2024 (game #315). If you are still solving, start with these hints, ordered from easiest to hardest:
- A representation or something emblematic.
- Related to rail travel or trains.
- Words that begin with the same sound even though their spellings differ.
- Four words that can all follow EAR.
How Connections #315 works
NYT Connections presents 16 words that must be sorted into four groups of four. Select four words and submit a group. The groups are color-coded by difficulty: yellow is usually easiest, green and blue are intermediate, and purple is typically the most difficult. You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the game ends. The puzzle resets daily at midnight in your local time.
Answers for April 21, 2024
The four categories and their words are:
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| EMBODIMENT | EXAMPLE, IDEAL, MODEL, SYMBOL | Each can represent, illustrate or embody an idea or thing. |
| RELATED TO TRAINS | CAR, CONDUCTOR, STATION, TRACK | All are directly associated with trains or rail travel. |
| STARTING WITH THE SAME SOUND | CYMBAL, SCIMITAR, SIMMER, SYMPHONY | Each begins with the /sɪm/ sound, despite different spellings. |
| EAR____ | DRUM, MARK, WAX, WIG | Adding EAR creates eardrum, earmark, earwax and earwig. |
Why each group works
EMBODIMENT: EXAMPLE, IDEAL, MODEL, SYMBOL
An example illustrates an idea, an ideal represents a standard or concept, a model can serve as a representation, and a symbol stands for something else. Their shared link is the sense of embodying or representing.
RELATED TO TRAINS: CAR, CONDUCTOR, STATION, TRACK
A train has cars, a conductor operates or oversees the service, a station is a rail stop, and a track is the route on which trains run.
#1 Best Overall
STARTING WITH THE SAME SOUND: CYMBAL, SCIMITAR, SIMMER, SYMPHONY
This group is based on pronunciation rather than spelling. CYMBAL, SCIMITAR, SIMMER and SYMPHONY all start with the /sɪm/ sound. The differing spellings are the trap.
EAR____: DRUM, MARK, WAX, WIG
Place EAR before each word: eardrum, earmark, earwax and earwig. These are familiar compounds, making the purple category a prefix-completion test.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical solving order
- Look first for the clear representation words: EXAMPLE, IDEAL, MODEL and SYMBOL.
- Remove obvious rail terms: CAR, CONDUCTOR, STATION and TRACK.
- Say the remaining candidates aloud to hear the shared opening sound in CYMBAL, SCIMITAR, SIMMER and SYMPHONY.
- Use the final four with EAR to confirm DRUM, MARK, WAX and WIG.
This is a historical puzzle, so the solutions above are spoilers for a game that was published on April 21, 2024.
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