Issue #278 Fri 15 Mar
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — March 15, 2024
Today's grid requires a steady hand, as several clusters lean into common conversational patterns that threaten to bleed together. Keep your eyes sharp for the minor shifts in usage that separate these seemingly straightforward sets.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A review written in red pen, a scathing comment board, or the sharp feedback delivered after a failed performance.
Verbal expressions of disapproval
Direct synonyms
Members are 4–5 letters; first letters B, K, S, T.
CRITICIZE
One is BLAST.
BLAST · KNOCK · SLAM · TRASH
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The moment you realize you've walked into the wrong office or bumped into a stranger on the subway platform.
Social acknowledgments of error
Functional synonyms
Members are 4–9 letters; first letters A, O, P, S.
“MY MISTAKE!”
One is APOLOGIES.
APOLOGIES · OOPS · PARDON · SORRY
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The long-winded explanation given to a parent when you return home well past the agreed-upon hour.
Justifications for an event
Thematic synonyms
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters D, E, O, R.
ALIBI
One is DEFENSE.
DEFENSE · EXCUSE · OUT · REASON
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A game of house, a tactical military scenario, or a classic scene from a western film.
Phrases starting with a common verb
Shared initial word construction
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters D.
PLAY ___
One is DATE.
DATE · DEAD · DIRTY · DOH
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
CRITICIZEBLAST · KNOCK · SLAM · TRASH
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Reveal the green group
“MY MISTAKE!”APOLOGIES · OOPS · PARDON · SORRY
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Reveal the blue group
ALIBIDEFENSE · EXCUSE · OUT · REASON
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Reveal the violet group
PLAY ___DATE · DEAD · DIRTY · DOH
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on March 15, 2024. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for March 15, 2024, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on March 15, 2024?
NYT Connections on March 15, 2024 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on March 15, 2024?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #278?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words