Spoiler warning: The progressive hints appear first, followed by the complete solution for NYT Connections #414 from July 29, 2024. Stop before the answer section if you are still solving.
Hints for Connections #414
Use these clues in order, from the yellow group to the purple group.
- Yellow: Think of places where a big sporting or entertainment event can happen.
- Green: Think of words that can follow a street name on an address.
- Blue: Think of four very different meanings or uses connected to the word “scales.”
- Purple: Think of things that can have or produce a spout.
The 16 words in the grid
- GUTTER
- WHALE
- TEAPOT
- DOME
- FISH
- BOWL
- JUSTICE
- ALLEY
- SOLFEGE
- COURT
- FOUNTAIN
- LANE
- COLISEUM
- LIBRA
- DRIVE
- ARENA
Answers for Connections #414
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | STADIUMS | ARENA, BOWL, COLISEUM, DOME |
| Green | STREET SUFFIXES | ALLEY, COURT, DRIVE, LANE |
| Blue | ASSOCIATED WITH SCALES | FISH, JUSTICE, LIBRA, SOLFEGE |
| Purple | THINGS WITH SPOUTS | FOUNTAIN, GUTTER, TEAPOT, WHALE |
Yellow: STADIUMS
ARENA, BOWL, COLISEUM, DOME are venue terms used for major sporting contests, concerts and other large events. “Bowl” can describe a stadium as well as a particular event played there.
Green: STREET SUFFIXES
ALLEY, COURT, DRIVE, LANE can appear as the final word in an address, such as a street name ending in Alley, Court, Drive or Lane.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
Blue: ASSOCIATED WITH SCALES
FISH have physical scales. Justice is traditionally represented by a figure holding scales. Libra is the zodiac sign symbolized by scales. Solfege is a music-training system that uses notes arranged in a scale.
Purple: THINGS WITH SPOUTS
FOUNTAIN, GUTTER, TEAPOT, WHALE can all be described as having or producing a spout. A fountain directs water through an outlet, a gutter can channel a projecting stream, a teapot pours through its spout, and a whale expels water through its blowhole.
Rank #2
Why this puzzle is deceptive
The bowling red herring
ALLEY, LANE and GUTTER immediately suggest bowling. Only Alley and Lane belong together here, as street suffixes; Gutter is part of the spout group. The fourth bowling-associated word is deliberately absent.
The law-related red herring
JUSTICE, COURT and LIBRA can evoke law or legal imagery, but they split across two categories: Justice and Libra connect to scales, while Court is a street suffix.
The unfamiliar word: SOLFEGE
Solfege (also spelled solfège) is the method of teaching pitch with syllables such as do, re, mi, fa, sol, la and ti. In this puzzle it points to a musical scale, making it the least familiar entry in the blue group.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Connections works
The game gives you 16 words and asks you to divide them into four groups of four. Categories generally progress from yellow, the most straightforward, through green and blue to purple, the most difficult. You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends. Connections is available through NYT Games on desktop and mobile.
TechRadar’s Marc McLaren rated this puzzle “Moderate,” reflecting the bowling and law-related misdirection and the unfamiliar solfege entry.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
