Need help with NYT Connections #496? The Saturday, October 19, 2024 puzzle groups the words into four themes: bringing something about, scented items, things that might sting, and video game franchises. Start with the spoiler-free hints below, or jump to the full answers when you’re ready.
Hints for Connections #496
Here is one clue for each color, from the least revealing to the most revealing. Stop before the next section if you want to solve the grid yourself.
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- Yellow: Make it happen.
- Green: Smells good.
- Blue: Ouch!
- Purple: Console yourself.
Category names
- Yellow: Bring About
- Green: Things That Are Often Scented
- Blue: Things That Might Sting
- Purple: Video Game Franchises
Connections answers for October 19, 2024
The 16 words on the board were PROVOKE, SOAP, NETTLE, CANDLE, INSULT, INCENSE, INSPIRE, MADDEN, JELLYFISH, CIVILIZATION, PROMPT, LOTION, HALO, GENERATE, WASP, and METROID.
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| Color | Category | Answers | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Bring About | GENERATE, INSPIRE, PROMPT, PROVOKE | Each can mean causing, stimulating, or inducing something. |
| Green | Things That Are Often Scented | CANDLE, INCENSE, LOTION, SOAP | All are commonly sold in scented forms; a scent is not essential to the item. |
| Blue | Things That Might Sting | INSULT, JELLYFISH, NETTLE, WASP | An insult can sting figuratively; a jellyfish, nettle, or wasp can sting physically. |
| Purple | Video Game Franchises | CIVILIZATION, HALO, MADDEN, METROID | MADDEN is the franchise name here, not the verb. |
How to read the tricky groups
“Sting” is both literal and figurative
Three blue answers point to physical stings: JELLYFISH, NETTLE, and WASP. INSULT completes the group through the figurative sense of a remark that hurts.
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MADDEN belongs with the game series
The purple group consists of recognizable video game franchises: Civilization, Halo, Madden, and Metroid. In this context, MADDEN is a proper franchise name rather than a clue to the meaning “make angry.”
The scented group describes common versions
Candles, incense, lotions, and soaps are often available with fragrance. The category does not mean every example must be scented.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Connections asks you to do
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four that share a category. The groups are color-coded by difficulty, and a secondary game explainer says players can make up to four mistakes before the answers are revealed: Parade’s explanation of how to play Connections.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The October 19, 2024 date and #496 answer groups are reported consistently by published puzzle guides, including Parade’s Connections guide.
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