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Connections Hints for December 12, 2024 #549

Pro tip: Tap each section to reveal answers one at a time. If you just need a gentle hint, get the connection hint for December 12, 2024 #549

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Navigation tip: Use the arrows below to browse through past puzzles. Each puzzle is organized from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple) categories.

Yellow Category — December 12, 2024

Green Category — December 12, 2024

Blue Category — December 12, 2024

Purple Category — December 12, 2024

Tricky Words in Today's Connections

Definitions for the most unusual words in today's puzzle

Purple group — PARTS OF A RIVER

Why is “DELTA” in the Purple group?

a landform that forms at the mouth of a river, created by the deposition of sediment

Yellow group — THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

Why is “TI” in the Yellow group?

a musical note, the seventh note of the major scale

Word definitions

Tricky words in today's Connections (December 12, 2024)

Several words in today's puzzle have multiple meanings or obscure definitions that can throw you off. Here's what each one means in the context of this Connections grid.

TEE
Definition: a mark or object used to indicate the starting point of a golf hole
Why it's tricky: has multiple meanings, including a type of shirt
GEAR
Definition: a toothed wheel or cog
Why it's tricky: can also refer to equipment or machinery
SAW
Definition: a tool for cutting through wood or other materials
Why it's tricky: can also be a past tense of 'see'
DELTA
Definition: a landform that forms at the mouth of a river
Why it's tricky: can also refer to a mathematical symbol or a type of aircraft

Connections #549 explained

Why these words connect (December 12, 2024)

Understanding the logic behind each group helps you spot similar patterns in future puzzles. Here's the reasoning for every category in today's Connections.

Yellow group: THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

These words are all connected by their similar sound to the letter 'T', including words like TEA, TEE, and TI, which are all pronounced similarly to the letter 'T'

Green group: OBJECTS WITH TEETH

These objects are all connected by their tooth-like structures, including combs, gears, saws, and zippers, which all have teeth that serve a specific purpose

Blue group: MILD OATHS

These words are all connected by their use as mild oaths or expressions of surprise, including words like FUDGE, GEEZ, NUTS, and RATS, which are all used to convey a sense of frustration or astonishment

Purple group: PARTS OF A RIVER

These words are all connected by their role as parts of a river, including the bank, bed, delta, and mouth, which are all essential components of a river's structure

Red herrings and trap words explained

These words were designed to mislead you. Understanding why they don't belong where you first think sharpens your game for tomorrow.

GEAR

Seems like it belongs to: THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

Actually belongs to: OBJECTS WITH TEETH

GEAR has teeth, but it doesn't sound like 'T', it's a word that can be misleading due to its multiple meanings

TEE

Seems like it belongs to: OBJECTS WITH TEETH

Actually belongs to: THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

TEE is a word that sounds like 'T', but it's not an object with teeth in the context of golf or shirts

Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained

These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.

Why “GEAR” didn't go with THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

Seems like: THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T" → Actually: OBJECTS WITH TEETH

GEAR has teeth, but it doesn't sound like 'T', it's a word that can be misleading due to its multiple meanings

Why “TEE” didn't go with OBJECTS WITH TEETH

Seems like: OBJECTS WITH TEETH → Actually: THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

TEE is a word that sounds like 'T', but it's not an object with teeth in the context of golf or shirts

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