Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsNeed help with NYT Connections puzzle #557 from Thursday, December 19, 2024? Start with the spoiler-safe category clues below, then open the answer key when you’re ready to see the four groups.
Hints for Connections #557
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Each group shares a theme, and the words can seem to fit more than one group. NYT’s Help Center explains the rules and color order: Connections help and rules.
- Yellow: What might you do when you need to put something off?
- Green: Think of things you might find at a pub or bar.
- Blue: These are types of vessels or boats.
- Purple: Look for familiar elements from the original Donkey Kong game.
How to approach the puzzle
Try the clearest shared meaning first, but check every word in a possible set before submitting it. A word that seems to fit one theme may belong to another, so reserve guesses for groups that hold together as a complete set of four.
Answers for Connections #557
Spoilers below: The category solutions and all 16 words are revealed next.
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| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Defer | DEFER, DELAY, POSTPONE, SHELVE |
| Green | Bar fixtures | COUNTER, KEG, STOOL, TAP |
| Blue | Watercraft | BARGE, JUNK, SUB, TUG |
| Purple | Seen in “Donkey Kong” | BARREL, GORILLA, HAMMER, LADDER |
Playing an older Connections puzzle
This page covers the archived puzzle dated December 19, 2024, not the puzzle released today. The New York Times Help Center says its archive reaches back to June 12, 2023, and access requires an All Access or Games subscription and an NYT account to save progress and history. Archived games affect stats but not current or maximum release-day streaks, and a completed archive puzzle cannot be replayed. NYT says the currently released Connections puzzle is free to play; check its Help Center page for current access details.
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