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This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle from Sunday, October 13, 2024, game #490—not the current daily puzzle. Below you’ll find the 16 words, progressively stronger hints, and the complete answers with explanations. Stop before the spoiler section if you want to solve it yourself.
In Connections, the aim is to divide 16 words into four groups of four. The groups are marked by difficulty: yellow is generally the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple.
The 16 Connections words for October 13, 2024
Here is the complete word grid for game #490:
- CARGO
- BOULDER
- CLAW
- HAMMER
- ANVIL
- HORN
- CALIFORNIA
- COYOTE
- EGG
- STIRRUP
- DRUM
- TNT
- CAPRI
- HOOF
- HONOR
- NAIL
Hints for Connections #490
Try these in order. The first set gives only the broad idea; the second names each category without revealing all four entries.
Hint 1: Group-level clues
- Yellow: Hard body parts or structures made of keratin.
- Green: Objects and characters strongly associated with the Road Runner cartoons.
- Blue: Different kinds or styles of pants.
- Purple: A word that can go with “roll” to make a familiar phrase.
Hint 2: Category names
- Yellow: MADE OF KERATIN
- Green: ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES
- Blue: KINDS OF PANTS
- Purple: ___ ROLL
Still solving? The yellow group is the most literal. The green group mixes a character with cartoon props. The blue group includes two less-common clothing terms. The purple group is based on phrase completions rather than a shared object or theme.
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Warning: answers below
Connections answers for Sunday, October 13, 2024 (#490)
Yellow: MADE OF KERATIN
CLAW, HOOF, HORN, NAIL
These are hard biological structures made primarily of keratin. The useful distinction is the material they share, not simply the fact that they can all be associated with animals or body parts. A claw, hoof, horn, and nail can look like tempting members of several broader categories, but their common keratin-based structure identifies the yellow group.
Green: ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES
ANVIL, BOULDER, COYOTE, TNT
These words evoke the familiar visual language of the Road Runner cartoons: the Coyote, oversized boulders, anvils, and explosives such as TNT. This group is less about a formal category than recurring characters and props associated with the cartoon’s elaborate pursuit-and-trap scenarios.
Blue: KINDS OF PANTS
CAPRI, CARGO, HAMMER, STIRRUP
Capri and cargo pants are widely recognized. Hammer pants are loose-fitting trousers associated with the “hammer” style, while stirrup pants have a strap or loop that passes under the foot. The two specialized clothing terms make this group harder than it first appears.
Purple: ___ ROLL
CALIFORNIA, DRUM, EGG, HONOR
Each word forms a familiar phrase with “roll”:
- California roll
- drum roll
- egg roll
- honor roll
This is the most wordplay-dependent group. Unlike the other sets, the four answers do not share a type of object, person, or clothing; they complete phrases when paired with roll.
How to approach this puzzle without giving away the answer
- Start with the most concrete connection. The keratin group is based on a literal shared property, so it is a useful entry point.
- Watch for words with multiple possible meanings. “Hammer” can suggest a tool, but here it belongs with clothing terms. “Horn” might suggest a musical instrument, but it is part of the keratin group.
- Look for a recognizable fictional world. Anvil, boulder, Coyote, and TNT point toward cartoon slapstick rather than a general collection of heavy or dangerous objects.
- Reserve the phrase-completion group for last. California, drum, egg, and honor become clear when tested against “roll,” but they do not otherwise form an obvious semantic set.
- Use the one-mistake limit wisely. Connections allows only a limited number of incorrect guesses, so test a complete group of four instead of submitting a promising pair or trio.
What made #490 tricky?
The puzzle uses several deliberate overlaps. Hammer is strongly associated with a tool, horn can suggest music, and anvil may look like another tool. Those surface meanings can pull solvers away from the intended categories. The blue group is also harder because “hammer pants” and “stirrup pants” are not as familiar as “cargo pants.” Finally, the purple category depends on recognizing common expressions rather than identifying a shared physical or cultural subject.
More Connections puzzles
If you enjoy solving the game away from a screen, an official Connections book is a natural next option. The publisher describes the forthcoming hardcover collection from The New York Times Games and Wyna Liu as containing more than 100 Connections puzzles, including exclusive puzzles. Its listed publication date is December 17, 2026; availability and preorder status may vary by retailer and country. There is no confirmation that the collection includes game #490, so it should not be treated as a printed copy of this specific puzzle.
Readers who prefer digital play can use the official NYT Games app or subscription to play Connections and access other games and, where included by the applicable plan, puzzle archives. Subscription features and availability can change, so check the current official NYT Games terms before signing up.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the current NYT Connections puzzle?
No. This article covers the archived Sunday, October 13, 2024 puzzle, which was game #490. The word “today” in the original title is historical and should not be read as referring to the current daily puzzle.
What are the four categories in Connections #490?
The categories are MADE OF KERATIN; ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES; KINDS OF PANTS; and ___ ROLL.
What is the hardest group in the October 13 Connections puzzle?
The purple group, ___ ROLL, is generally the most wordplay-dependent. Its answers are CALIFORNIA, DRUM, EGG, and HONOR.
The Bottom Line
The answers for NYT Connections #490 are CLAW, HOOF, HORN, NAIL for MADE OF KERATIN; ANVIL, BOULDER, COYOTE, TNT for ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES; CAPRI, CARGO, HAMMER, STIRRUP for KINDS OF PANTS; and CALIFORNIA, DRUM, EGG, HONOR for ___ ROLL.
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