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NYT Connections puzzle #551 is the edition published Friday, December 13, 2024. Here are progressively revealing hints, followed by the complete answer key for anyone ready to check their solve.
Hints for Connections #551
The grid contains 16 words to sort into four groups of four. The answer guides report that players have a four-mistake limit. Try the clues below before revealing the category labels and word sets.
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- Yellow: Think of beings from stories and legends.
- Green: These are places email messages can be filed.
- Blue: These names belong to a citrus-soda group.
- Purple: Say the words aloud and listen for animal names.
Connections #551 answers
Spoilers below: The category names and all 16 answers follow.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Fantasy creatures | DRAGON, GIANT, PIXIE, TROLL |
| Green | Email folders | DRAFTS, SENT, SPAM, TRASH |
| Blue | Citrus sodas | CRUSH, SPRITE, SQUIRT, STARRY |
| Purple | Animal homophones | BORE, LINKS, PHISH, TOWED |
Why the purple group works
The purple set relies on sound rather than spelling: BORE sounds like “boar,” LINKS like “lynx,” PHISH like “fish,” and TOWED like “toad.” When a group’s words look unrelated on the page, testing how they sound can reveal a shared connection.
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Word bank
The puzzle’s 16 entries are TRASH, PHISH, CRUSH, TROLL, BORE, SPAM, LINKS, SQUIRT, SPRITE, TOWED, GIANT, DRAFTS, PIXIE, SENT, STARRY, and DRAGON.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.About this archived puzzle
This guide is for the December 13, 2024 edition, puzzle #551—not a later Connections puzzle published on December 13 in another year. TechRadar and Try Hard Guides publish matching category labels and word groups for this puzzle. TechRadar points players to NYT Games on desktop or mobile; current availability and account or subscription terms are not established by these archived answer guides.
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