Puzzle #540

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for Monday, December 2, 2024

Puzzle #540 · Monday, Dec 2, 2024

Stuck on Connections puzzle #540? Each group below starts with a gentle hint. Open a starter word, then the category, and only reveal the full answers when you are ready. Your progress is remembered on this device.

Nothing is revealed until you tap it.

Clues and hints for each group

Yellow group Straightforward

Hint: Four of the sixteen words share a link. The category name begins with the letter A.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: BROADCAST

Show the category

Announce

Green group Moderate

Hint: Picture where or when you would meet all four together in everyday life.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: CARPENTRY

Show the category

Things Involving Mallets

Blue group Tricky

Hint: Four of the sixteen words share a link. The category name begins with the letter I.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: CROCODILE

Show the category

Icon Embroidered on a Polo Shirt

Purple group Hardest

Hint: Think of one short word that can follow each of the four to make a familiar phrase.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: ALLIGATOR

Show the category

___ Clip

Full answers for puzzle #540

Reveal all four groups and their words

Announce

BROADCAST DECLARE HERALD TRUMPET

Things Involving Mallets

CARPENTRY CROQUET WHAC-A-MOLE XYLOPHONE

Icon Embroidered on a Polo Shirt

CROCODILE LAUREL POLO PLAYER SWOOSH

___ Clip

ALLIGATOR HAIR PAPER VIDEO

More Connections hints

Other Monday puzzles

Questions people ask

How hard is NYT Connections puzzle #540?

Puzzle #540 from December 2, 2024 follows the usual pattern: yellow is the gentlest group and purple the trickiest.

How can I get a hint for the December 2, 2024 Connections puzzle without spoilers?

Every group on this page opens with a one-line hint. One word from the group and then the category name sit behind separate buttons, and the full answers stay hidden until you open them.

When does the new Connections puzzle come out?

A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight in your local time zone. We usually publish the next puzzle's hints the evening before, US time, so they are ready when your grid refreshes. See today's hints →

How many mistakes are you allowed in Connections?

You have four mistakes. The fourth wrong guess ends the game, so you can safely miss three times. If the game says you are "one away", three of your four words are correct.

Where can I find yesterday's Connections answers?

Open the Yesterday page for the previous puzzle, or search the archive by date, puzzle number, word or category. Yesterday's hints →