This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle for Friday, October 4, 2024, game #481—not a puzzle for October 4 in another year. Start with the graduated hints below; the four complete groups and answers are farther down.
October 4 Connections board
The 16 words in game #481 were:
DROP · DASH · DAISY · DREAM · DING · DOC · DINNER · DAB · DALE · DUE · DIMPLE · DELIVERY · DENT · DOLLOP · DORY · DIVOT
Hints, from subtle to specific
- Look for words that can describe an indentation or impression.
- Several can mean a small quantity.
- Some are familiar names from animated stories.
- For the last group, try adding the same four-letter word to each item; the results include phrases for appointments and scheduled events.
How to approach the trickiest group
Try to make every proposed category fit exactly four words. For the final set, the shared word is not on the board: DELIVERY, DINNER, DREAM, and DUE each pair with DATE. Checking the completed phrases can help distinguish this group from other plausible interpretations.
A useful general approach is to look for a precise rule, test whether a tempting pair can be expanded to four, and reconsider overlapping meanings before submitting. TechRadar’s writer said the small-quantity group stood out first, while the blank-date pattern took more thought; that is one solver’s account, not an official explanation of the puzzle.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Full answers for Connections #481
Spoilers below.
| Color | Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | CONCAVITY | DENT, DIMPLE, DING, DIVOT | Each can describe a depression, dent, or small impression. |
| Green | SMALL AMOUNT | DAB, DASH, DOLLOP, DROP | Each can refer to a small quantity. |
| Blue | DISNEY CHARACTERS | DAISY, DALE, DOC, DORY | Each is a character name associated with Disney. |
| Purple | ___ DATE | DELIVERY, DINNER, DREAM, DUE | They form delivery date, dinner date, dream date, and due date. |
What the puzzle asks you to do
Try Hard Guides and TechRadar describe Connections as grouping words that share a common thread: choose four words and submit the set. Their guides say players can make up to four mistakes while finding the four groups. These mechanics are reported by those secondary guides.
The answer set and date-specific board are corroborated by Try Hard Guides, TechRadar, and Parade. The official NYT game page was not accessible for independent confirmation, so this guide relies on those dated secondary answer guides.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
