A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #736
hints & answers for June 16, 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 June 16, 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, I and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLANK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EXPRESSIONLESS

Reveal all four words
  • BLANK
  • FLAT
  • INANIMATE
  • WOODEN

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BRACKET belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS

Reveal all four words
  • BRACKET
  • CURTAIN
  • HOOK
  • ROD

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COASTER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT A DRINK IS SERVED WITH

Reveal all four words
  • COASTER
  • GARNISH
  • GLASS
  • STRAW

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BUSBOY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION

Reveal all four words
  • BUSBOY
  • CARBON
  • SHIPSHAPE
  • TRAINEE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: EXPRESSIONLESS
  • Green: DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS
  • Blue: WHAT A DRINK IS SERVED WITH
  • Purple: STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

EXPRESSIONLESS

BLANK · FLAT · INANIMATE · WOODEN

Green

DRAPERY HANGING ITEMS

BRACKET · CURTAIN · HOOK · ROD

Blue

WHAT A DRINK IS SERVED WITH

COASTER · GARNISH · GLASS · STRAW

Purple

STARTING WITH METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION

BUSBOY · CARBON · SHIPSHAPE · TRAINEE

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.