Connections Hints
Monday, September 16, 2024
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — September 16, 2024
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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
BOTTLE
CACTUS
CHEESE
CHIEF
CORN
GRADUATE
HEDGEHOG
MACE
MUSH
MUSHROOM
PAP
PINEAPPLE
PREMIER
PRINCIPAL
SALARY
SUPREME
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
FOREMOSTStraightforward
SPIKY THINGSModerate
OVERLY SENTIMENTAL WORKTricky
THINGS THAT ARE CAPPEDDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
FOREMOSTStraightforward
WORDS MEANING NUMBER ONE OR TOP-RANKING+ 3 more…
SPIKY THINGSModerate
THINGS COVERED IN SHARP POINTS+ 3 more…
OVERLY SENTIMENTAL WORKTricky
SLANG FOR OVERLY SAPPY OR SCHMALTZY CREATIVE WORK+ 3 more…
THINGS THAT ARE CAPPEDDevious
THINGS THAT LITERALLY HAVE CAPS ON THEM+ 3 more…
Full solution
FOREMOSTStraightforward
CHIEF,PREMIER,PRINCIPAL,SUPREME
CHIEF, PREMIER, PRINCIPAL, and SUPREME all mean first in rank or importance.
SPIKY THINGSModerate
CACTUS,HEDGEHOG,MACE,PINEAPPLE
CACTUS, HEDGEHOG, MACE, and PINEAPPLE are all things known for having spikes or sharp protrusions.
OVERLY SENTIMENTAL WORKTricky
CHEESE,CORN,MUSH,PAP
CHEESE, CORN, MUSH, and PAP are all informal terms for something excessively sentimental or saccharine.
THINGS THAT ARE CAPPEDDevious
BOTTLE,GRADUATE,MUSHROOM,SALARY
BOTTLE has a bottle cap, GRADUATE wears a mortarboard cap, MUSHROOM has a cap (its top), and SALARY can be capped (given a maximum limit).