A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #679
hints & answers for April 20, 2025

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows April 20, 2025. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with G, G, L and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GANDER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GLIMPSE

Reveal all four words
  • GANDER
  • GLANCE
  • LOOK
  • PEEP

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, D, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BASIN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

NEEDS FOR TIE-DYEING A SHIRT

Reveal all four words
  • BASIN
  • DYE
  • RUBBER BANDS
  • SHIRT

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, E, J and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CODE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS YOU CAN CRACK

Reveal all four words
  • CODE
  • EGG
  • JOKE
  • WHIP

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, B, H and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BAR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS BEFORE “HOP”

Reveal all four words
  • BAR
  • BUNNY
  • HIP
  • SOCK
Show categories only
  • Yellow: GLIMPSE
  • Green: NEEDS FOR TIE-DYEING A SHIRT
  • Blue: THINGS YOU CAN CRACK
  • Purple: WORDS BEFORE “HOP”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

GLIMPSE

GANDER · GLANCE · LOOK · PEEP

Green

NEEDS FOR TIE-DYEING A SHIRT

BASIN · DYE · RUBBER BANDS · SHIRT

Blue

THINGS YOU CAN CRACK

CODE · EGG · JOKE · WHIP

Purple

WORDS BEFORE “HOP”

BAR · BUNNY · HIP · SOCK

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.