NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Monday, December 2 (game #540)

Good morning! Let’s delve into NYT’s Connections, a challenging word game where you categorize answers. If you need some hints, keep reading.

Once you’ve tackled Connections, why not try out some other word games? I also have daily Wordle, Strands, and Quordle hints and answers to assist you.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so proceed with caution if you want to figure it out yourself.

Your Connections expert

Your Connections expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Connections today (game #540) – today’s words

NYT Connections hints for game 540 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

  • TRUMPET
  • CROQUET
  • CROCODILE
  • PAPER
  • ALLIGATOR
  • HAIR
  • WHAC-A-MOLE
  • HERALD
  • POLO PLAYER
  • BROADCAST
  • LAUREL
  • XYLOPHONE
  • CARPENTRY
  • VIDEO
  • SWOOSH
  • DECLARE

NYT Connections today (game #540) – hint #1 – group hints

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • Yellow: Tell everyone
  • Green: Tent-pitching is another
  • Blue: It’s close to your chest
  • Purple: Blank [thing that holds other things together]

Need more clues?

We are now in spoiler territory, but if you want the four theme answers for today’s NYT Connections puzzles, keep reading.

NYT Connections today (game #540) – hint #2 – group answers

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: ANNOUNCE
  • GREEN: THINGS INVOLVING MALLETS
  • BLUE: ICON EMBROIDERED ON A POLO SHIRT
  • PURPLE: ___ CLIP

Scroll down for the answers. Keep them hidden if you want to figure it out on your own.

NYT Connections today (game #540) – the answers

NYT Connections answers for game 540 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Connections, game #540, are…

  • YELLOW: ANNOUNCE BROADCAST, DECLARE, HERALD, TRUMPET
  • GREEN: THINGS INVOLVING MALLETS CARPENTRY, CROQUET, WHAC-A-MOLE, XYLOPHONE
  • BLUE: ICON EMBROIDERED ON A POLO SHIRT CROCODILE, LAUREL, POLO PLAYER, SWOOSH
  • PURPLE: ___ CLIP ALLIGATOR, HAIR, PAPER, VIDEO

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: 2 mistakes

I stumbled a bit on a couple of groups today, but it all came together in the end.

For example, the green group initially seemed to involve hitting with a hammer, but after some deliberation, I corrected my answer to “THINGS INVOLVING MALLETS” and got it mostly right.

The blue group threw me off with logos, but with the yellow group cleared up, I successfully solved the “ICON EMBROIDERED ON A POLO SHIRT” group. But I mistakenly included ALLIGATOR instead of CROCODILE in the blue group.

The purple group, on the other hand, was more straightforward, and I managed to solve it correctly.

How did you fare today? Share your progress with me via email.


Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Sunday, 1 December, game #539)

  • YELLOW: SANCTUARY HAVEN, PORT, RETREAT, SHELTER
  • GREEN FOOTBALL GEAR CLEATS, HELMET, JERSEY, PADS
  • BLUE: CANDY NAMES CHARMS, KINDER, WONKA, YORK
  • PURPLE: “FREE ___” BIRD, FALLIN’, SOLO, WILLY

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