These are the hints and answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle published Saturday, October 12, 2024, game #489. Start with the word bank, then use the spoiler-separated hints before opening the full solution.
The 16 words in Connections #489
GOO, SWALLOW, GOBBLE, STOLE, COO, MOTOR, SCARF, TAKE, APP, HONK, STAND, HOOT, WRAP, BEAR, SAM, SHAWL.
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four that share a theme. The categories progress from yellow to green, blue, and purple in difficulty; four incorrect guesses end the puzzle. [Graham Todd, Tim Merino, Sam Earle, and Julian Togelius, April 17, 2024]
Hints for October 12
Try each hint before moving on to the next. The clues become more direct, but none gives away the full word sets.
#1 Best Overall
- Neck wear
- Put up with
- Cluck cluck
- SON is another
Answers for Connections #489
Spoilers below: the category names and all four groups are revealed here.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | DRAPED ACCESSORIES | SCARF, SHAWL, STOLE, WRAP |
| Green | TOLERATE | BEAR, STAND, SWALLOW, TAKE |
| Blue | BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA | COO, GOBBLE, HONK, HOOT |
| Purple | STARTS OF CELL PHONE MAKERS | APP, GOO, MOTOR, SAM |
Why the purple group works
The four entries are the beginnings of cell phone makers’ names: APPle, GOOgle, MOTORola, and SAMsung. The trick is to read each answer as a prefix rather than as a complete company name.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How difficult was the puzzle?
TechRadar guide author Marc McLaren described his own rating as Easy and his result as Perfect. That is his reported experience, not an objective difficulty score or a universal assessment. [TechRadar, October 11, 2024]
Connections #489 is the October 12, 2024 edition; the date and number distinguish it from puzzles published on October 12 in other years.
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