Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle for Tuesday, July 9, 2024, game #394—not the live daily puzzle in 2026. Read the hints first, then open the answer key when you’re ready for spoilers.
Hints for Connections #394
Try these clues before looking at the categories or solved groups. They move from gentle nudges to more revealing prompts.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Yellow: Important facts written into a ____.
- Green: How you might describe bedhead.
- Blue: Popular titles that are missing something at the end.
- Purple: These can all share the same first word.
For a stronger nudge, the category labels are CHRONICLE, MESS OF HAIR, TV SHOWS MINUS “S,” and WORDS AFTER “HEDGE.”
The 16 words on the board
SCRUB, MAZE, REGISTER, SHOCK, HOG, LOG, MOP, CHEER, TANGLE, WEED, RECORD, FUND, FRIEND, MANE, TRIMMER, JOURNAL.
#1 Best Overall
Answers for NYT Connections #394
Spoilers below. The groups are:
- Yellow — CHRONICLE: JOURNAL, LOG, RECORD, REGISTER
- Green — MESS OF HAIR: MANE, MOP, SHOCK, TANGLE
- Blue — TV SHOWS MINUS “S”: CHEER, FRIEND, SCRUB, WEED
- Purple — WORDS AFTER “HEDGE”: FUND, HOG, MAZE, TRIMMER
Why each group fits
Yellow: CHRONICLE
A journal, log, record, or register can be an account or record of events.
Green: MESS OF HAIR
Mane, mop, shock, and tangle can each describe a mass or arrangement of hair.
Blue: TV SHOWS MINUS “S”
Add a final S to each word to make the show titles CHEERS, FRIENDS, SCRUBS, and WEEDS.
Purple: WORDS AFTER “HEDGE”
Put HEDGE before each answer to form hedge fund, hedge hog, hedge maze, and hedge trimmer. The puzzle’s label is “WORDS AFTER ‘HEDGE’”; the familiarity of the resulting pairings varies.
How Connections works
The New York Times describes Connections as a word game where players sort 16 words into four groups of four based on shared themes. Each group has a color: yellow is easiest and purple trickiest. The Help Center says, “Words and categories are curated by editors using the Oxford Dictionary.” See the NYT Help Center’s Connections guide for its general rules and access details.
According to that guide, the daily puzzle releases at midnight in the player’s timezone and is free to play on NYT platforms, including the Games app, NYTimes.com Connections, NYTimes.com/The Athletic, and the News app. The guide also says the archive covers puzzles from June 12, 2023 onward for All Access and Games subscribers; archived play does not change current or maximum streaks. Those are current access details, not necessarily the terms that applied when #394 was published.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and puzzle-specific context
The answer groups are corroborated by TechRadar’s July 9, 2024 Connections guide and Parade’s July 9, 2024 guide. TechRadar’s Marc McLaren rated the puzzle “Moderate” and reported a perfect score; those are his personal assessment and result, not an official difficulty rating or a broader player statistic.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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.
