A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #716
hints & answers for May 27, 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 27, 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 C, F, P and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COASTER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ROUND FLAT THINGS

Reveal all four words
  • COASTER
  • FRISBEE
  • PANCAKE
  • RECORD

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CAROUSEL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

AIRPORT FEATURES

Reveal all four words
  • CAROUSEL
  • FOOD COURT
  • GATE
  • LOUNGE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BEND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GUITAR PLAYING TECHNIQUES

Reveal all four words
  • BEND
  • PICK
  • SLIDE
  • STRUM

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BEAST belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT CHARACTERS WERE TRANSFORMED INTO IN “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

Reveal all four words
  • BEAST
  • CANDELABRA
  • CLOCK
  • TEACUP
Show categories only
  • Yellow: ROUND FLAT THINGS
  • Green: AIRPORT FEATURES
  • Blue: GUITAR PLAYING TECHNIQUES
  • Purple: WHAT CHARACTERS WERE TRANSFORMED INTO IN “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

ROUND FLAT THINGS

COASTER · FRISBEE · PANCAKE · RECORD

Green

AIRPORT FEATURES

CAROUSEL · FOOD COURT · GATE · LOUNGE

Blue

GUITAR PLAYING TECHNIQUES

BEND · PICK · SLIDE · STRUM

Purple

WHAT CHARACTERS WERE TRANSFORMED INTO IN “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

BEAST · CANDELABRA · CLOCK · TEACUP

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.