Connections requires players to find the connections between 16 words, and place them in four groups of four. If you want some help, we have the solution to Connections for May 20, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.
SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)
Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#344)
Today, as every day, you need to split the 16 words that make up the Connections puzzle grid into four groups of four based on specific categories. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fortunately, we’re on hand to help you solve today’s Connections puzzle.
If you want to jump straight to today’s Connections solution, scroll past the next spoiler warning. However, if you’d rather see some category clues designed to help you solve it without giving the answers away first:
- Yellow: “Things Harry Potter may cast as an auror”
- Green: “A person being coerced and controlled”
- Blue: “What Superman and Batman wear”
- Purple: “The creators of films you can switch your brain off for”
SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)
Today’s Connections Solution (May 20, 2024)
If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #344 without running out of mistakes, here is the solution…
Today’s Connections Categories Without the Answers
- Yellow = “Sorcerer’s Output”
- Green = “One Being Manipulated”
- Blue = “Classic Superhero Wear”
- Purple = “Action Movie Directors”
With the categories revealed, you should try to guess which words belong where. There are 16 words in total, with four belonging to each category.
If you are still stuck despite knowing the names of each category, continue scrolling down for the 16 words organized into their respective categories.
SPOILERS AHEAD (SOLUTION)
Today’s Connections Categories Plus the Answers
- Yellow: “Sorcerer’s Output” = CHARM, HEX, MAGIC, SPELL
- Green: “One Being Manipulated” = INSTRUMENT, PAWN, PUPPET, TOOL
- Blue: “Classic Superhero Wear” = CAPE, MASK, TIGHTS, UNDERWEAR
- Purple: “Action Movie Directors” = BAY, CARPENTER, SCOTT, WOO
What Made Today’s Connections Difficult
Today’s Connections puzzle was made difficult due to the following:
- The most obvious red herrings today are “bay” and “cape” as two coastal landscapes, “hex” and “tool” as things builders use, plus “charm” and “woo” as two words that can alternatively be used to describe attempts to get close to someone.
- I personally found the Purple category the most difficult today. Even though I have heard of all of these directors, grouping them together after only seeing their surnames was a tricky task. Younger players may have an even tougher time given that John Carpenter and Ridley Scott are older (and best known for older films).
Our Top Tips to Beat Connections Every Day
- Shuffle the words as many times as you need. Shuffling the words around means you’re more likely to spot the connections.
- Look for differences as well as similarities. The NYT is trying to trip you up, so look for what divides the words with similar meanings.
- Take your time, and don’t rush into a guess. Connections isn’t a timed challenge, so you have the luxury of planning everything out.
- Look for common themes over time. The more you play Connections, the more you’ll spot recurring themes cropping up regularly.
- Tune into the NYT editors’ way of thinking. It’s the puzzle setters you’re competing against, so you need to understand their game plan.
Now that you have completed today’s Connections puzzle (with a little help from your friends at MUO), you should check out some of the other free games from the New York Times.
Wordle is the best-known of them all, and challenges you to find a 5-letter word within six guesses. For every letter you find, you get told if it’s in the correct place, allowing you to whittle down the possible options. If you need help with Wordle, check out our tips and tricks to improve your Wordle score.
There’s also Strands, the newest addition to the New York Times’ burgeoning list of games. Just like Connections, it’s extremely challenging, but in a unique string-the-letters-together way. We recommend you check out our best tips for beating Strands to give yourself a leg up on the daily challenge.
Or, if you’re really only into Connections but want more tips than are offered above, check out our longer list of Connections tips and tricks.
