A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #688
hints & answers for April 29, 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 29, 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 B, D, M and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BATTER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

COOKING CONCOCTIONS

Reveal all four words
  • BATTER
  • DOUGH
  • MIXTURE
  • PASTE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CANDLESTICK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SEEN ON A TABLE AT A DINNER PARTY

Reveal all four words
  • CANDLESTICK
  • PITCHER
  • PLACEMAT
  • PLATE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with L, M, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

LADDER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS TO CLIMB

Reveal all four words
  • LADDER
  • MOUNTAIN
  • ROPE
  • TREE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

GEMSTONE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT "DIAMOND" CAN REFER TO

Reveal all four words
  • GEMSTONE
  • INFIELD
  • RHOMBUS
  • SUIT
Show categories only
  • Yellow: COOKING CONCOCTIONS
  • Green: SEEN ON A TABLE AT A DINNER PARTY
  • Blue: THINGS TO CLIMB
  • Purple: WHAT "DIAMOND" CAN REFER TO

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

COOKING CONCOCTIONS

BATTER · DOUGH · MIXTURE · PASTE

Green

SEEN ON A TABLE AT A DINNER PARTY

CANDLESTICK · PITCHER · PLACEMAT · PLATE

Blue

THINGS TO CLIMB

LADDER · MOUNTAIN · ROPE · TREE

Purple

WHAT "DIAMOND" CAN REFER TO

GEMSTONE · INFIELD · RHOMBUS · SUIT

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.