Need help with the Sunday, October 20, 2024, NYT Connections puzzle, game #497? Start with the staged hints below; the full group labels and tile assignments follow in a clearly marked spoiler section.
Hints for Connections #497
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on a shared theme. The clues can hinge on wordplay as well as straightforward meanings. Try each hint before moving to the next.
- Yellow: Press pieces.
- Green: What’s that sound?
- Blue: Ping-pong equipment.
- Purple: Words that sound like a connecting term.
Answers for October 20, 2024
Spoilers below: The category labels and all 16 answers are revealed here.
| Category | Tiles |
|---|---|
| BIT OF NEWSPAPER WRITING | ARTICLE, COLUMN, FEATURE, STORY |
| NOISY DISTURBANCE | CLATTER, RACKET, ROW, RUCKUS |
| TABLE TENNIS NEEDS | BALL, NET, PADDLE, TABLE |
| HOMOPHONES OF COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS | BUTT, FORE, OAR, SEW |
Why the purple group fits
Each purple tile sounds like a coordinating conjunction: BUTT like “but,” FORE like “for,” OAR like “or,” and SEW like “so.” The other groups collect kinds of newspaper writing, noisy disturbances, and table-tennis necessities.
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How difficult was puzzle #497?
TechRadar’s guide rated this puzzle “Moderate.” That is the guide author’s qualitative assessment, not an official NYT difficulty score.
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Rank #2
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