NYT Connections #523, dated Friday, November 15, 2024, asks you to sort 16 words into four groups. Start with the hints below if you want to solve it yourself; the complete answer is farther down. TechRadar’s guide and Forbes’ guide report the same solution.
What words are in Connections #523?
The November 15, 2024 grid contains these 16 words:
PIPE, PHRASE, JUG, PASSAGE, LEAK, LETTER, WASTE, WHISTLE, NICK, CRACK, RECORDER, WORD, HOLE, SANDS, SENTENCE, PUNCTURE.
Connections asks players to make four groups of four from the grid. The cited guides describe up to four mistakes, so use the hints in stages if you want to limit spoilers.
#1 Best Overall
Hints for the November 15 puzzle
- One group consists of words associated with writing.
- Another group contains things you blow into.
- Look for four words that can mean a split, opening, or breach.
- For the final group, try adding the same three words after each candidate phrase: “___ of time.”
Full spoiler: Connections #523 answers
Spoiler warning: The complete category names and word groupings are below.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | FISSURE | CRACK, HOLE, LEAK, PUNCTURE |
| Green | ELEMENTS OF WRITING | LETTER, PHRASE, SENTENCE, WORD |
| Blue | INSTRUMENTS YOU BLOW INTO | JUG, PIPE, RECORDER, WHISTLE |
| Purple | ___ OF TIME | NICK, PASSAGE, SANDS, WASTE |
Why the groupings can be tricky
Several words invite competing interpretations. PHRASE, PASSAGE, LETTER, WORD, and SENTENCE may look like writing vocabulary, while LEAK, NICK, CRACK, HOLE, and PUNCTURE can suggest openings or damage. Forbes notes this five-candidate overlap in its discussion; it is a feature of this particular grid, not a formal rule for Connections.
Rank #2
The purple group works by completing familiar expressions: a nick of time, passage of time, sands of time, and waste of time. Seeing the shared ending helps separate those words from the writing and fissure groups.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play Connections
TechRadar identifies NYT Games as the place to play Connections on desktop or mobile. Availability and access requirements can change, so check the current game page for the latest details.
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