Issue #705 Fri 16 May
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — May 16, 2025
A steady day for the grid, balancing a few straightforward sets with a pair of groups that require a sharper eye for structural patterns. Expect a standard level of push and pull as the categories settle into place.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The overgrown corner of a backyard where you finally decide to rent the heavy-duty shears.
Botany
Synonyms
Members are 4–5 letters; first letters H, S, T, V.
KINDS OF PLANTS
One is HERB.
HERB · SHRUB · TREE · VINE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The quiet office on a Friday afternoon when the paperwork is cleared and the lights go out for good.
Business and operations
Synonyms
Members are 3–8 letters; first letters D, E, S.
DISCONTINUE
One is DISSOLVE.
DISSOLVE · END · SCRAP · SUNSET
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A red jersey in a sea of fans or the ticker tape scrolling across a morning news broadcast.
Cultural associations
Common thematic links
Members are 5–14 letters; first letters M, R, T, W.
ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS
One is MICHAEL JORDAN.
MICHAEL JORDAN · RODEO · TAURUS · WALL STREET
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The unfinished renovation where the drywall is stacked neatly against the living room wall.
Linguistic patterns
Suffix-based wordplay
Members are 7–12 letters; first letters H, K, N.
ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS
One is HOLLYWOOD.
HOLLYWOOD · HOURGLASS · KUBRICK · NEUROPLASTIC
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
KINDS OF PLANTSHERB · SHRUB · TREE · VINE
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Reveal the green group
DISCONTINUEDISSOLVE · END · SCRAP · SUNSET
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Reveal the blue group
ASSOCIATED WITH BULLSMICHAEL JORDAN · RODEO · TAURUS · WALL STREET
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Reveal the violet group
ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALSHOLLYWOOD · HOURGLASS · KUBRICK · NEUROPLASTIC
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on May 16, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for May 16, 2025, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on May 16, 2025?
NYT Connections on May 16, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on May 16, 2025?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #705?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words