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NYT Connections #543 is the puzzle from Thursday, December 5, 2024. Its answers are APTITUDE, EXTERIOR, TECH COMPANIES, and ____ STONE. Use the graduated hints below before revealing the complete groups and explanations.
NYT Connections #543 was published on Thursday, December 5, 2024. The four answers are APTITUDE, EXTERIOR, TECH COMPANIES, and ____ STONE.
Spoiler warning: The hints below become progressively more specific, and the complete solution appears farther down the page.
Hints for Connections #543
Try these clues in order, stopping as soon as you have enough to finish the grid:
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- One group contains words for a natural ability, talent, or special knack.
- One group describes the outside or outward-facing part of something.
- One group consists of names associated with technology companies.
- The most difficult group is made by putting the same word after each answer. The shared word is STONE.
Stronger hint: reveal the category themes
The four themes are natural ability, exterior, technology companies, and words that can come before STONE.
The 16 words in the December 5, 2024 puzzle
The Connections #543 grid contained:
APPLE, LIME, YELLOW, FACE, NOSE, FRONT, RHINE, AMAZON, SURFACE, GIFT, ORACLE, BRIM, INSTINCT, INTUIT, OUTSIDE, FLAIR
Connections #543 answers
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | APTITUDE | FLAIR, GIFT, INSTINCT, NOSE |
| Green | EXTERIOR | FACE, FRONT, OUTSIDE, SURFACE |
| Blue | TECH COMPANIES | AMAZON, APPLE, INTUIT, ORACLE |
| Purple | ____ STONE | BRIM, LIME, RHINE, YELLOW |
Yellow: APTITUDE
FLAIR, GIFT, INSTINCT, and NOSE all point to an ability or knack. A flair is a natural talent or distinctive ability, while a gift can mean an inborn talent. Instinct describes an intuitive capacity, and a person can have a nose for something—such as a nose for news, bargains, or trouble.
Rank #2
- DIMENSIONS: Outside - 12.25"L x 13.043"W x 3.150"H | Inside - 10.25"L x 12.25"W x 2.125"H. Thick size for durable storage.
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Green: EXTERIOR
FACE, FRONT, OUTSIDE, and SURFACE can each refer to the outer or visible part of something. The face or front is the outward-facing side; a surface is the outer layer; and the outside is the exterior itself.
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AMAZON, APPLE, INTUIT, and ORACLE are company names associated with technology. This category depends on recognizing the words as proper names rather than reading them only as ordinary nouns or, in Amazon’s case, a geographic reference.
Purple: ____ STONE
BRIM, LIME, RHINE, and YELLOW each form a word when followed by STONE:
- BRIM + STONE = BRIMSTONE
- LIME + STONE = LIMESTONE
- RHINE + STONE = RHINESTONE
- YELLOW + STONE = YELLOWSTONE
Why Connections #543 was tricky
The strongest early move is the aptitude group: FLAIR, GIFT, INSTINCT, and NOSE all naturally suggest talent or intuition. The technology-company group is also fairly firm once APPLE, AMAZON, INTUIT, and ORACLE are read as corporate names.
The remaining words then divide between the exterior terms and the word-completion group. The purple category is harder because its relationship is not based on a shared definition. Instead, each word must be combined with STONE.
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RHINE is the clearest red herring. It may initially suggest a river or a geography category, but it belongs with BRIM, LIME, and YELLOW because all four create compounds with “stone.” APPLE can also look like a fruit, while AMAZON can suggest a rainforest or river. The puzzle rewards switching between everyday meanings, proper names, and word compounds.
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How Connections works
Connections gives players 16 words and asks them to sort the grid into four groups of four. Each group has a common connection, and the categories are displayed using four difficulty colors: yellow is generally the easiest, followed by green and blue, while purple is usually the most challenging.
For a reliable solving approach, first look for four words that share a precise meaning or familiar category. Then test the proposed group against the rest of the grid: a connection is not enough if a fifth word fits equally well. Save unusual compounds, proper-name readings, and flexible words for later, since those are often designed as misdirection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Final solution
NYT Connections #543, from December 5, 2024, resolves as follows:
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- APTITUDE: FLAIR, GIFT, INSTINCT, NOSE
- EXTERIOR: FACE, FRONT, OUTSIDE, SURFACE
- TECH COMPANIES: AMAZON, APPLE, INTUIT, ORACLE
- ____ STONE: BRIM, LIME, RHINE, YELLOW
Because this is puzzle #543 from 2024, it should not be described as the current or “today’s” Connections puzzle without updating the date. Readers looking for a different December 5 edition should check the year as well as the puzzle number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the answers to Connections #543?
NYT Connections #543 was published on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Its groups were APTITUDE, EXTERIOR, TECH COMPANIES, and ____ STONE.
Why is RHINE in the ____ STONE category?
BRIM, LIME, RHINE, and YELLOW all go before STONE to make BRIMSTONE, LIMESTONE, RHINESTONE, and YELLOWSTONE.
Which Connections #543 words were tech companies?
The technology-company group was AMAZON, APPLE, INTUIT, and ORACLE.
The Bottom Line
The answer groups for NYT Connections #543 are APTITUDE (FLAIR, GIFT, INSTINCT, NOSE), EXTERIOR (FACE, FRONT, OUTSIDE, SURFACE), TECH COMPANIES (AMAZON, APPLE, INTUIT, ORACLE), and ____ STONE (BRIM, LIME, RHINE, YELLOW).
Quick Recap
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