Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSpoiler warning: This is the October 14, 2024 NYT Connections puzzle, game #491—not an October 14 puzzle from another year. Read the hints in order and stop before the answer section if you want to solve it yourself.
Hints for Connections #491
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. The category colors run from yellow, generally the easiest, to purple, generally the hardest; a guide to this puzzle says players can make up to four mistakes. These are descriptions from puzzle guides, not an official NYT rules citation. Tom’s Guide’s October 14 guide offers these category clues:
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- Yellow: Rummage
- Green: Sounds of thunder
- Blue: Ways to wear your hair up
- Purple: Things that can have leaves
For another nudge, look for double meanings and think about the great outdoors—but be careful not to split hairs. That is the guide’s editorial hint, not an official NYT clue.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Answers for Monday, October 14, 2024
Spoilers below: The following groups reveal the complete solution to game #491.
#1 Best Overall
- Yellow — Rummage: COMB, DIG, ROOT, SIFT
- Green — Sounds of thunder: CLAP, PEAL, ROLL, RUMBLE
- Blue — Ways to wear your hair up: BRAID, BUN, PONY, TWIST
- Purple — Things that can have leaves: BOOK, SALAD, TABLE, TREE
Three puzzle guides report the same categories and word sets. Tom’s Guide and Parade label the puzzle for October 14, 2024; TechRadar’s October 15 recap identifies the previous day’s game as #491. These are third-party reports, not an official NYT answer archive.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the word groups can be tricky
Some words invite plausible cross-category connections. ROOT and DIG can suggest gardening, while TREE and leaves point toward the outdoors. The final purple group depends on the different meanings of “leaves”: BOOK, SALAD, TABLE, and TREE can all have them. PONY is used as shorthand for a ponytail in the hair-up group, and PEAL is the less familiar word in the thunder set.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
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