NYT Connections hints and answers for today (31 May 2025)

Time of India

2 days ago

NYT Connections
is back with another thrilling puzzle for today. If you're ready to kick off your Saturday with a brain-boosting puzzle, look no further than today's edition of Connections, the
New York Times
' increasingly popular daily game.
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Whether you're a casual word lover or a full-on puzzle enthusiast, this challenge is a great way to test your pattern recognition and vocabulary skills. Below, you'll find a full guide including hints, today's answers, and category explanations. Proceed with caution—spoilers lie ahead, but if you want help solving without giving everything away, the hints might just point you in the right direction.
What is NYT Connections?
Connections is a daily word association game from the New York Times.
Out of 16 given words, the objective is to group them into four sets of four connected by a common theme. These themes may be concrete (like 'types of fruit') or abstract (like 'things you blow'), and they increase in difficulty, moving from yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest). Each grouping has only one correct combination, so careful thought is required.
How to play NYT Connections?
You start with a grid of 16 words. Your task is to figure out how they can be divided into four distinct groups of four, with each group sharing a common trait.
Select four words you think are connected and submit them. If correct, they'll be grouped and removed from the board. If not, the game will give you feedback, possibly saying you're 'one away.' But beware—you only get four mistakes before the game ends. You can play Connections free online at the NYT Games site.
Hints for today's NYT Connections (31 may 2025)
Here are subtle clues to help you think about today's word groupings:
Yellow group – These could describe tucked-away or secret spots.
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Green group – These are often awarded or displayed for notable accomplishments.
Blue group – Think about what happens to dough before it becomes bread.
Purple group – These can all be puffed up or burst in some fashion.
Answers for today's Connections
Yellow group – Alcove: cavity, hollow, nook, recess
Green group – Ways to recognize achievement: certificate, medal, plaque, trophy
Blue group – Verbs in breadmaking: ferment, proof, rest, rise
Purple group – Things you can blow: bubble, fuse, kiss, raspberry
Explanation of each group
Alcove: These words—cavity, hollow, nook, recess—are all synonyms or closely related to small hidden spaces or indentations.
Despite the dental misdirection from cavity and plaque, only one made the cut here.
Ways to recognize achievement: This set includes certificate, medal, plaque, and trophy, all common tokens of recognition in academics, sports, and other achievements. It's a straightforward category once you discard the dental association of plaque.
Verbs in breadmaking: Perhaps the trickiest of the four, this group—ferment, proof, rest, rise—includes steps in preparing bread dough.
These words might confuse players unfamiliar with baking terminology.
Things you can blow: Bubble, fuse, kiss, and raspberry all fit this playful and diverse category. From the literal (blowing bubbles) to the idiomatic (blowing a fuse), it's a fun mix.
Saturday's Connections was a clever puzzle with a nice mix of wordplay and thematic trickery. The dental red herring and baking jargon offered some challenges, but the groups fell into place with a bit of lateral thinking.
Whether you got them all or needed a nudge, remember it's all about learning and having fun. Come back tomorrow for another wordy adventure!