A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #745
hints & answers for June 25, 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 25, 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, G, J and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLUE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

KINDS OF CHEESES

Reveal all four words
  • BLUE
  • GOAT
  • JACK
  • SWISS

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CUP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BEVERAGE SELF-SERVICE ITEMS

Reveal all four words
  • CUP
  • LID
  • NAPKIN
  • STRAW

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHISEL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WOODWORKING HAND TOOLS

Reveal all four words
  • CHISEL
  • PLANE
  • RASP
  • SAW

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CRAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BIRDS MINUS LAST LETTER

Reveal all four words
  • CRAN
  • FLAMING
  • HERO
  • RAVE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: KINDS OF CHEESES
  • Green: BEVERAGE SELF-SERVICE ITEMS
  • Blue: WOODWORKING HAND TOOLS
  • Purple: BIRDS MINUS LAST LETTER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

KINDS OF CHEESES

BLUE · GOAT · JACK · SWISS

Green

BEVERAGE SELF-SERVICE ITEMS

CUP · LID · NAPKIN · STRAW

Blue

WOODWORKING HAND TOOLS

CHISEL · PLANE · RASP · SAW

Purple

BIRDS MINUS LAST LETTER

CRAN · FLAMING · HERO · RAVE

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.