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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11NYT Connections puzzle #402, published Wednesday, July 17, 2024, groups 16 words into four categories. Start with the spoiler-safe clues below if you want to solve it yourself, or scroll to the answer table for the complete groups.
Hints for Connections #402
These clues are arranged from the least revealing to the most revealing: each gives a little more information about the connection without listing the answers.
- Yellow: Explore local architecture.
- Green: Think of ways to obstruct or limit something.
- Blue: Consider collective terms for animals.
- Purple: Look for familiar beginnings; the words need something added at the end.
For an extra nudge, Parade’s clues describe things you might see while running errands, something that means “to block,” animal-related terms, and words missing their endings: Parade’s July 17 Connections hints.
How to approach the puzzle
- Check the everyday words first. Look for four places that could appear on an errand route around town.
- Test synonyms before submitting. Several words can suggest obstacles or restriction; check whether four share the same sense of hindering.
- Look for collective nouns. Animal groups may be named with familiar words that also have other meanings.
- Save the wordplay category for last. If four entries look incomplete, try adding letters to their ends to form a recognizable shared set.
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four. WordHint and TechRadar describe up to four allowable mistakes, so a plausible overlap is worth checking before you submit: WordHint’s puzzle guide and TechRadar’s guide.
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Full answers for July 17, 2024
Spoilers below. The four Connections #402 groups are:
| Color | Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Buildings around town | BANK, LAUNDROMAT, POST OFFICE, SUPERMARKET | Places you might find around town while running errands. |
| Green | Hinder | CHECK, CURB, HAMPER, INHIBIT | Each can mean to obstruct, restrain, or impede. |
| Blue | Animal group names | PACK, PRIDE, SCHOOL, SWARM | Collective nouns for animals. |
| Purple | Starts of U.S. presidents | BIDE, CART, NIX, WASHING | Add an ending to make Biden, Carter, Nixon, and Washington. |
The full word list
The 16 words in the puzzle were BANK, BIDE, CART, CHECK, CURB, HAMPER, INHIBIT, LAUNDROMAT, NIX, PACK, POST OFFICE, PRIDE, SCHOOL, SUPERMARKET, SWARM, and WASHING.
Why the purple category is wordplay
The purple group is not made up of complete surnames. Each entry is the opening portion of a U.S. president’s surname: BIDE becomes Biden, CART becomes Carter, NIX becomes Nixon, and WASHING becomes Washington. Recognizing that the words need letters at the end is the key to spotting the category.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play
TechRadar reported that Connections was playable free through the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. Access and pricing can change; check the NYT Games Connections page for current availability. The puzzle’s date is July 17, 2024; daily-puzzle references here concern that edition, not a later puzzle with the same calendar date.
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