New York Times Connections: Hints and Answers for #342 May…

Connections is back with another selection of challenging words. Today's puzzle is probably one of the most challenging puzzles that the New York Times Games has yet concocted, and you may be searching for some help with it.

Below, you can find a variety of clues to help you will today's puzzle. So no matter if you are looking for puzzle hints, category clues, individual spoilers, or just the whole answer, you can find this information here.

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By Jason Wojnar

Words in the NYT Connections Puzzle #342 for May 18, 2024

NYT-New-York-Times-Games-Connections-May-18-2024

The Connections puzzle for today contains the words: Catfish, Hairpin, Fishbowl, Trampoline, Mousetrap, Werewolf, Bulldog, Switchback, Dogleg, Mattress, Horsefly, Categories, Turtledove, Charades, Clock, and Zag.

What is the Definition of Zag?

Zag is a shortened form of the word zigzag. It means to sharply turn in a new direction. It can also mean "to move in one of the two directions followed in a zigzag course" according to Dictionary.com.

What is the Definition of Dogleg?

A dogleg is a very sharp turn in a road or trail. It is similar to switchback.

Hints for the NYT Connections Puzzle #342 for May 18, 2024

If you are already familiar with the rules of how to play Connections, but you still need help, check out all the expandable sections below. Each one has a different kind of hint inside to help you get closer to today's answer.

Some General Hints for the Whole Connections Puzzle 342

Here are some hints:

1. Werewolf and Fishbowl are in the same category, but that category has nothing to do with compound words.

2. Hairpin and Dogleg go in the same category.

3. Clock and Mattress go in the same category.

Here are some hints for the yellow/straightforward answer in this PC puzzle game: If you put two animals together, you get these animals.

The category for the yellow/straightforward Connections is Animals Whose Names Are Two Animals.

The answer to the yellow/straightforward Connections is Animals Whose Names Are Two Animals.

The four words for this group in the puzzle are: Bulldog, Catfish, Horsefly, Turtledove.

Here are some hints for the green/medium difficulty answer: Turn hard to the right, then turn hard to the left.

The category for the green/medium difficulty Connections is Sharp Turns.

The answer to the green/medium difficulty Connections is Sharp Turns.

The four words for this group in the puzzle are: Dogleg, Hairpin, Switchback, Zag.

Here are some hints for the blue/difficult answer in this puzzle game that can make you smarter: Things to play in a large group.

The category for the blue/difficult Connections is Classic Party Games.

The answer to the blue/difficult Connections is Classic Party Games.

The four words for this group in the puzzle are: Categories, Charades, Fishbowl, Werewolf.

Here are some hints for the purple/tricky answer in this innovative puzzle game: Other things that could go in this category: Pens, Toasters, Shocks.

The category for the purple/tricky difficulty in Connections is Things with Spring/s.

The answer to the purple/tricky difficulty in Connections is Things with Spring/s.

The four words for this group in the puzzle are: Clock, Mattress, Mousetrap, Trampoline.

Answers for Today's NYT Connections #342 for May 18, 2024

The full spoiler for today's Connections puzzle is in the expandable section below. It contains all the categories and the words that go in each of them.

Yellow - Animals Whose Names Are 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