Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThese NYT Connections hints and answers are for Monday, November 18, 2024—not today’s current puzzle. The contemporaneous Parade article identifies it as puzzle #526. Spoilers follow: start with the graduated hints below, then continue to the category names and complete groups when you’re ready.
Hints for Monday, November 18
Try each clue before revealing the category titles or answers. The hints move from broad associations toward the four themes.
- Think of common grooming products, including things you might find in a salon.
- Consider recurring bills and other regular financial obligations.
- Look for objects or creatures that can have small, round marks.
- Think of words associated with sea creatures.
Category titles
Ready for the next level of help? The four categories are:
- Used in hair care
- Monthly expenses
- Things with spots
- _____ crab
Full Connections answers
Here are the complete groups for the November 18, 2024 puzzle:
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- The game where _______ minds think alike!
- Prepare yourself for Blank Slate, a game of addicting predictions! How well can you put your finger on what everyone's thinking?
- Pick a Word Cue card, write the word you think best completes the phrase, and try to match it to anther player's word without giving a single hint
- Easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for the whole family; just grab a slate, write a word, and get ready to make a match. Great for large groups or small gatherings!
- Includes: Scoreboard, 8 dry-erase slates, 250 doubled-sided word cue cards, rules
- Used in hair care: COMB, DRYER, HAIRSPRAY, ROLLERS
- Monthly expenses: GAS, INTERNET, PHONE, RENT
- Things with spots: DALMATIAN, DIE, DOMINO, LADYBUG
- _____ crab: FIDDLER, HERMIT, HORSESHOE, SPIDER
About the puzzle number
Parade’s article, published November 18, 2024, calls this puzzle #526. A later archive search result labels the puzzle for that date #555, and the reason for the discrepancy has not been established. The date-matched contemporaneous article is the basis for identifying it here as #526.
How Connections works
Connections is a daily New York Times category-matching puzzle. Players sort sixteen terms into four groups of four. The categories can rely on wordplay as well as straightforward associations, so terms that seem to fit together may be red herrings.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- UNIQUE COOPERATIVE WORD GAME: Write one clue connecting two keywords on each clover leaf. Teammates guess which keyword pair each clue links in this inventive, laugh-out-loud word association game
- CREATIVE PARTY GAME FOR ADULTS: So Clover! challenges players to make unexpected word connections. The more creative your clues, the higher your team scores in this hilarious adult party game
- GREAT FOR WORD GAME FANS: So Clover! takes cooperative word games to the next level with a unique multi-clue clover structure that delivers fresh, surprising, and satisfying creative connections
- FAST, FUN & SOCIAL: Plays in under 30 minutes with 3-6 players ages 10 and up. So Clover! is quick to setup, with no filler, just pure creative energy and highly collaborative family fun from the very first round
- IDEAL GIFT FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES: So Clover! is the party game gift for anyone who loves wordplay and creative thinking. Easy to teach in minutes, endlessly engaging at any family game night
Rank #3
- Two teams race to identify their agents from a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows each card’s identity
- Spymasters give one-word clues and a number to link multiple cards, encouraging creative thinking
- Teammates guess words matching the clue while avoiding the other team’s agents, bystanders, and the assassin
- Revealing the assassin ends the game instantly, adding high-stakes tension
- Teams may guess up to the clue number plus one, allowing strategic risks or revisiting old clues
Rank #2
- STRATEGIC THINKING: Elevate the fun with this game, where players strategically choose word combinations, making it perfect for party games for adults and family, enhancing both depth and complexity.
- MULTIPLAYER FUN: Engage in multiplayer entertainment with Subtext Showdown, perfect for game nights with 3 to 6 participants, promoting communication and creative thinking in the realm of adult games for game night.
- POINTS OF PRECISION: Accumulate points by adeptly deducing associations or demonstrating telepathic synchronicity, ensuring a gratifying experience for effective communication and intuitive connections in adult board games.
- RACE AGAINST TIME: With a ticking clock, players must think quickly and make their associations before time runs out, adding an exciting element of urgency to the game.
- EXCITING PERFECT GIFT: Combine phrases from the 16 cards to form associations that friends can decode, providing an exhilarating challenge in teen-friendly card games, perfect gift for any occasion.
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