Issue #342 Sat 18 May
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — May 18, 2024
Today's grid requires a steady hand to untangle several overlapping themes. The wordplay is straightforward, though a few traps are waiting for the impatient.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A walk through the woods where you find a creature that seems to be wearing a mask of another.
Zoological nomenclature
Compound words formed by joining two distinct identifiers
Members are 7–10 letters; first letters B, C, H, T.
ANIMALS WHOSE NAMES ARE TWO ANIMALS
One is BULLDOG.
BULLDOG · CATFISH · HORSEFLY · TURTLEDOVE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
Tires gripping asphalt on a mountain pass where the road doubles back on itself.
Navigational geometry
Terms describing sudden directional shifts
Members are 3–10 letters; first letters D, H, S, Z.
SHARP TURNS
One is DOGLEG.
DOGLEG · HAIRPIN · SWITCHBACK · ZAG
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The living room rug is pushed aside, the bowl of scraps is passed, and someone has to play the narrator.
Social recreation
Commonly known tabletop and group activities
Members are 8–10 letters; first letters C, F, W.
CLASSIC PARTY GAMES
One is CATEGORIES.
CATEGORIES · CHARADES · FISHBOWL · WEREWOLF
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The rhythmic ticking of a mantle piece or the sudden snap of a metal trap in the dark.
Mechanical components
Items defined by the presence of a coiled tension device
Members are 5–10 letters; first letters C, M, T.
THINGS WITH SPRING/S
One is CLOCK.
CLOCK · MATTRESS · MOUSETRAP · TRAMPOLINE
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
ANIMALS WHOSE NAMES ARE TWO ANIMALSBULLDOG · CATFISH · HORSEFLY · TURTLEDOVE
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Reveal the green group
SHARP TURNSDOGLEG · HAIRPIN · SWITCHBACK · ZAG
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Reveal the blue group
CLASSIC PARTY GAMESCATEGORIES · CHARADES · FISHBOWL · WEREWOLF
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Reveal the violet group
THINGS WITH SPRING/SCLOCK · MATTRESS · MOUSETRAP · TRAMPOLINE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on May 18, 2024. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for May 18, 2024, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on May 18, 2024?
NYT Connections on May 18, 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 May 18, 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 #342?
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