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Spoiler warning: This guide covers the archived Connections puzzle #493 from October 16, 2024. If you want to solve it yourself first, use the hints below before opening the full answer groups.
Hints for Connections #493
Try these clues in order; each points toward one group without naming its four words.
- Think of expressions for a time after now.
- Look for words used to describe tournament structure or progression.
- Consider small shapes or pieces of breakfast cereal.
- Think about what an extended index and middle finger can signify.
Connections #493 answers for October 16, 2024
The puzzle’s 16 words divide into these four groups:
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| AT SOME FUTURE POINT | EVENTUALLY, LATER, NEXT, SOON |
| PARTS OF A TOURNAMENT SETUP | BRACKET, BYE, ROUND, SEED |
| BIT OF BREAKFAST CEREAL | CHEERIO, FLAKE, PEBBLE, PUFF |
| WHAT THE OUTSTRETCHED INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS CAN REPRESENT | PEACE, SCISSORS, TWO, VICTORY |
Why the Connections groups fit
AT SOME FUTURE POINT
EVENTUALLY, LATER, NEXT, and SOON all place something after the present. Their timing is not identical: “soon” generally suggests a nearer time than “eventually,” while “next” depends on which event or period comes after the current one.
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PARTS OF A TOURNAMENT SETUP
BRACKET, BYE, ROUND, and SEED are tournament terms. BYE is the less obvious fit: it describes an advancement without playing a round, rather than a tournament stage or organizing structure.
BIT OF BREAKFAST CEREAL
CHEERIO, FLAKE, PEBBLE, and PUFF refer to familiar forms or individual pieces of breakfast cereal.
WHAT THE OUTSTRETCHED INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS CAN REPRESENT
PEACE, SCISSORS, TWO, and VICTORY are meanings associated with the two-finger gesture. The intended link is the gesture’s possible meanings, not simply the number of fingers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Connections works
Connections presents a grid of 16 words and asks players to sort them into four groups of four. According to the game guide from Creative Collaboration, correctly solved groups leave the board, players can rearrange or shuffle the words, and four incorrect guesses are allowed. The guide describes yellow as the easiest group color and purple as the most difficult; those colors indicate the game’s intended difficulty order, not a guarantee that every player will find the groups equally easy.
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