A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #709
hints & answers for May 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 May 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 L, L, R and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

LEDGER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ACCOUNT BOOK

Reveal all four words
  • LEDGER
  • LOG
  • RECORD
  • REGISTER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BALE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SEEN IN A BARN

Reveal all four words
  • BALE
  • HORSE
  • PITCHFORK
  • TROUGH

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BROWN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DETECTIVES OF KID-LIT

Reveal all four words
  • BROWN
  • DREW
  • HARDY
  • HOLMES

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CANOPY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS BEFORE “BED”

Reveal all four words
  • CANOPY
  • DAY
  • MURPHY
  • WATER
Show categories only
  • Yellow: ACCOUNT BOOK
  • Green: SEEN IN A BARN
  • Blue: DETECTIVES OF KID-LIT
  • Purple: WORDS BEFORE “BED”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

ACCOUNT BOOK

LEDGER · LOG · RECORD · REGISTER

Green

SEEN IN A BARN

BALE · HORSE · PITCHFORK · TROUGH

Blue

DETECTIVES OF KID-LIT

BROWN · DREW · HARDY · HOLMES

Purple

WORDS BEFORE “BED”

CANOPY · DAY · MURPHY · WATER

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.