A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #702
hints & answers for May 13, 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 May 13, 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, F, M and O. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BAZAAR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PLACES TO SHOP

Reveal all four words
  • BAZAAR
  • FAIR
  • MARKET
  • OUTLET

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

HAWAIIAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

KINDS OF PIZZA

Reveal all four words
  • HAWAIIAN
  • PLAIN
  • SUPREME
  • VEGGIE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with E, I, M and Q. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

EVERGREEN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING WITH COLORS

Reveal all four words
  • EVERGREEN
  • INFRARED
  • MARIGOLD
  • QUICKSILVER

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

BATHROOM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ CLEANER

Reveal all four words
  • BATHROOM
  • DRY
  • PIPE
  • VACUUM

Each entry comes before "CLEANER" to form a word, expression or name: BATHROOM → BATHROOM CLEANER; DRY → DRY CLEANER; PIPE → PIPE CLEANER; VACUUM → VACUUM CLEANER.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: PLACES TO SHOP
  • Green: KINDS OF PIZZA
  • Blue: ENDING WITH COLORS
  • Purple: ___ CLEANER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PLACES TO SHOP

BAZAAR · FAIR · MARKET · OUTLET

Green

KINDS OF PIZZA

HAWAIIAN · PLAIN · SUPREME · VEGGIE

Blue

ENDING WITH COLORS

EVERGREEN · INFRARED · MARIGOLD · QUICKSILVER

Purple

___ CLEANER

BATHROOM · DRY · PIPE · VACUUM

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.