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 18, 2024, along with hints to help you solve it yourself.
SPOILERS AHEAD (CLUES)
Category Clues for Today’s Connections (#342)
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: “No, Rabbitsheep do not exist (unfortunately)”
- Green: “Put the steering at full lock to navigate these”
- Blue: “Fun after a few beers, but probably not without any”
- Purple: “Boing, boing!”
SPOILERS AHEAD (CATEGORIES)
Today’s Connections Solution (May 18, 2024)
If those clues aren’t enough, and you’re still struggling to beat Connections #342 without running out of mistakes, here is the solution…
Today’s Connections Categories Without the Answers
- Yellow = “Animals Whose Name Is Two Animals”
- Green = “Sharp Turns”
- Blue = “Classic Party Games”
- Purple = “Things With Spring/s”
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: “Animals Whose Name Is Two Animals” = BULLDOG, CATFISH, HORSEFLY, TURTLEDOVE
- Green: “Sharp Turns” = DOGLEG, HAIRPIN, SWITCHBACK, ZAG
- Blue: “Classic Party Games” = CATEGORIES, CHARADES, FISHBOWL, WEREWOLF
- Purple: “Things With Spring/s” = CLOCK, MATTRESS, MOUSETRAP, TRAMPOLINE
What Made Today’s Connections Difficult
Today’s Connections puzzle was made difficult due to the following:
- The most obvious red herrings today are the litany of words containing animal names. As well as the four that make up the Yellow category, there’s “dogleg,” “fishbowl,” “mousetrap,” and “werewolf”.
- I personally found the Blue category the most difficult, as I don’t recognize all of these “classic” party games. While I am familiar with Categories and Charades, if someone asked me to play Fishbowl or Werewolf, I would need reminding of the rules. That may say more about me than today’s Connections (and its setter) though.
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.
