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The answers for New York Times Connections puzzle #488, dated Friday, October 11, 2024, are CHERISH (RELISH, SAVOR, TREASURE, VALUE), QUICK JUMP IN THE POOL (DIP, DIVE, SPLASH, SWIM), ADDITIONAL BENEFIT (BONUS, EXTRA, FROSTING, GRAVY), and BRASHNESS (BRASS, CHEEK, NERVE, SAUCE). This is an archived puzzle, so the answers below are for that October 2024 date rather than today’s grid.
Full answer key for Connections #488
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | CHERISH | RELISH, SAVOR, TREASURE, VALUE |
| Green | QUICK JUMP IN THE POOL | DIP, DIVE, SPLASH, SWIM |
| Blue | ADDITIONAL BENEFIT | BONUS, EXTRA, FROSTING, GRAVY |
| Purple | BRASHNESS | BRASS, CHEEK, NERVE, SAUCE |
The category labels and word groups above follow the answer guide TechRadar published on October 10, 2024. I could not check them against an official NYT archive page, so treat that guide as the source for this answer set.
How to work through the grid
Connections puzzles are easiest to crack by starting with the group whose meaning is clearest and removing its words from consideration. For #488, that is the yellow group, and each of the other three groups then becomes easier to see.
Yellow: CHERISH
RELISH, SAVOR, TREASURE, and VALUE are verbs meaning to appreciate or prize something. The trap is that RELISH and SAVOR also work as food words, and VALUE could look like a noun in other puzzles. Read them as verbs of appreciation and the group closes quickly.
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Green: QUICK JUMP IN THE POOL
DIP, DIVE, SPLASH, and SWIM all describe ways of getting into a pool quickly. SWIM is the word most likely to look out of place, since it is also an activity once you are in the water. The category asks about entering the pool, so SWIM fits only as one of the four.
Blue: ADDITIONAL BENEFIT
BONUS and EXTRA name an added benefit directly. FROSTING and GRAVY are less literal: each is something added on top of a main thing, which is how they match the same idea. Solvers often mistake them for food-only words, which is the main reason this group is harder than it first looks.
Purple: BRASHNESS
BRASS, CHEEK, NERVE, and SAUCE each refer to audacity or impudence. SAUCE is the least obvious of the four in this sense, and it is usually the last word to be placed. If the other three are settled and SAUCE is still unplaced, it belongs here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Difficulty rating
TechRadar’s author rated this puzzle “Easy.” That is the author’s own assessment, not an official NYT difficulty score.
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