NYT ‘Connections’ October 18: Answers and Clues for Game #495

Connections has become such a popular game that its owner, The New York Times, has opened up new ways to enjoy the daily word puzzle.

First launching in June 2023, Connections was an instant hit and is the second-most played game on the NYT app and website following, Wordle.

Earlier this month, NYT announced it was launching the Connections archive, meaning subscribers could access 450 puzzles, pick up unfinished games and track their play history.

Fans of the game can also analyze their playing statistics and win streaks, which will help players improve their tactics and discuss strategy with friends and family.

“We know how eager our players are to dive into their Connections stats. By giving them the tools to track, analyze, and reflect on their gameplay, we’re not just meeting that need—we’re elevating the entire experience,” said Jonathan Knight, NYT’s head of games in September.

“These new features are all about deepening the delight of the game, keeping the challenge fresh, and fostering long-term engagement. It’s going to make Connections even more rewarding, social, and, most importantly, fun.”

How to Play ‘Connections’

Players are tasked with finding a common theme from a 16-word table. There are four words in each of the four themes, but some words can belong to more than one group. For example, a previous Connections puzzle featured the words “cater,” “host,” “plan” and “throw” joined in the category “Help put on a party.”

Each theme is separated into a color from yellow, blue, green and purple, each reflecting a different level of difficulty, ascending from the easiest, yellow. Players get four chances to make a mistake before losing the game. The puzzles are not always straightforward and use a range of possible associations from homophones and wordplay, among other techniques.

The answers for Friday’s puzzle are toward the end of the article, so scroll with caution if you want to work them out yourself.

Connections #495 Clues for Friday, October 18

Newsweek has helpful hints to assist you with today’s game.

Yellow: Synonyms include, failed, malfunctioning or not working.

Green: The right set of circumstances.

Blue: How to buy something without using paper money.

Purple: Words that follow a proper noun which represents a major e-retailer and green area in Brazil.

Connections #495 Answers for Friday, October 18

Yellow Category: CLUNKER

Yellow Words: Bust, Dud, Flop, Miss

Green Category: OPPORTUNITY

Green Words: Chance, Shot, Time, Turn

Blue Category: NON-CASH WAY TO PAY

Blue Words: Card, Charge, Credit, Plastic

Purple Category: AMAZON ______

Purple Words: Kindle, Prime, Rainforest, River

Did you work out the answers? If so, congratulations; if not, don’t be put off. Practice makes perfect, and the next Connections puzzle will be published on Saturday.

Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone, and Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips.

In the meantime you could try your hand at The New York Times’ other popular game, Wordle, for which Newsweek also provides daily hints.