Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Make separate things meet or work together.
Show one word
BRIDGE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
CONNECT
Reveal all four words
- BRIDGE
- JOIN
- LINK
- UNITE
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #717
hints & answers for May 28, 2025
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#717
This reference always shows May 28, 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.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, P, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CHAIN belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
PARTS OF A BIKE
Reveal all four words
- CHAIN
- PEDAL
- SADDLE
- WHEEL
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, C, G and M. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CHICAGO belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
BEST PICTURE WINNERS SINCE 2000
Reveal all four words
- CHICAGO
- CRASH
- GLADIATOR
- MOONLIGHT
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, P, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BLUEST belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
MUSIC GENRES PLUS A LETTER
Reveal all four words
- BLUEST
- POPE
- ROCKY
- SKAT
Show categories only
- Yellow: CONNECT
- Green: PARTS OF A BIKE
- Blue: BEST PICTURE WINNERS SINCE 2000
- Purple: MUSIC GENRES PLUS A LETTER
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
CONNECT
BRIDGE · JOIN · LINK · UNITE
Green
PARTS OF A BIKE
CHAIN · PEDAL · SADDLE · WHEEL
Blue
BEST PICTURE WINNERS SINCE 2000
CHICAGO · CRASH · GLADIATOR · MOONLIGHT
Purple
MUSIC GENRES PLUS A LETTER
BLUEST · POPE · ROCKY · SKAT
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.
Continue from this date
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.