Today’s Connections puzzle might appear quite challenging, with words in various categories feeling disconnected. This can make solving the puzzle much tougher and can lead to frustration, especially when you’re convinced you’re on the brink of an answer but realize you’re nowhere close. To help you navigate the puzzle, we’ve gathered essential tips and hints to help you see the bigger picture.
Once you complete today’s puzzle, you might be in the mood for more. If so, give the NYT’s Mini Crossword a try—it’s perfectly sized for a quick challenge. You’ll find it enjoyable and can make it a daily ritual, just like this puzzle. While crossword puzzles aren’t for everyone, if you enjoy this one, you’ll likely have just as much fun with the mini version.
Hints for Today’s Connections Categories
DECEMBER 04 #542
Having the right clues for today’s puzzle is crucial as you’ll want to grasp the general themes without getting a complete spoiler. It’s often a challenge to pinpoint the perfect hint, but we aim to guide you through the puzzle without giving away too much. Today features a mix of categories, including one that’s relatively simple and three that are a bit trickier.
- One category consists of verbs that indicate movement or change.
- Another relates to items that share a common material or manufacturing process.
- One category includes names stemming from a specific historical time and place.
- Lastly, you’ll find words associated with parts of a house.
If you find yourself stuck and need additional guidance, there are more hints below. I will first share the category names before revealing the answers for each one.
Today’s Connections Answers
DECEMBER 04 #542
Yellow Answers: Explained
|
STEER |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECT | GUIDE | LEAD | SHEPHERD |
Today’s simpler category features words with related meanings, making it easier to identify them. Finding SHEPHERD was a bit of a challenge since it’s primarily a noun, not commonly used as a verb. However, I overcame that quickly. The remaining three categories were trickier and took me some time to understand.
Green Answers: Explained
|
THINGS WITH NEEDLE/S |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| COMPASS | PINE TREE | SEWING KIT | TURNTABLE |
I had a good start with this category, identifying COMPASS and TURNTABLE early. Initially, I mistook them for circular items, pairing them with PAN and LOOFAH. It wasn’t until I shifted my perspective that I realized the true category, which was a little too late.
Blue Answers: Explained
|
FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| ATLAS | ECHO | HELEN | PAN |
This category is something I know well, and yet it still posed a challenge at first. When COMPASS and TURNTABLE didn’t fit, I found myself drawn to map-related terms like ATLAS. Once I cleared my mind of distractions, I managed to identify the remaining words.
Purple Answers: Explained
|
STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR LAVATORY |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| CANDLE | JOHNSON | LOOFAH | TOILETRIES |
Interestingly, this category is among the most challenging for me, even after playing consistently for a while. I tend to overlook such synonyms, and it can be frustrating to finally see what I missed once the puzzle is solved.
Other Games Like Connections
For another enjoyable experience, try Worldle.
|
Game Name |
How To Play |
Free To Play? |
|---|---|---|
|
Wordle (NYT) |
Solve a random five-letter word using color cues. A daily updated list provides every Wordle answer. |
Yes |
|
Name a country using only its silhouette and a few geographical hints. |
Yes |
|
|
Craft a password in this ever-changing, tricky game. Our Password Game guide includes helpful tips. |
Yes |
|
|
Attempt to solve a game of Wordle without assistance, with minimal info provided for each guess. |
Yes |
