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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSpoiler warning: This guide contains progressively stronger hints, the category names, and the complete solution for NYT Connections puzzle #605, published on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Stop after the hint level you need if you still want to solve it yourself.
The puzzle’s four groups connect to employee compensation, indications, card-playing actions, and the different things “Bill” can mean.
NYT Connections #605 hints
Here are the clues from broadest to most revealing. The words in each group are not listed here, so you can use the themes without immediately seeing the solution.
Yellow group hint
These are parts of an employee’s compensation package. Think beyond regular wages to extra pay and common workplace benefits.
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Green group hint
Each word can describe something that indicates, reveals, or signals information.
Blue group hint
These are things you can do with a deck of playing cards. Look for familiar ways of handling cards before or during a game.
Purple group hint
Each answer can be preceded by, represented by, or associated with the name “Bill.” This is the wordplay-heavy group.
Category names for Connections #605
Need a stronger nudge? The four categories were:
- Yellow: Parts of a compensation package
- Green: Indication
- Blue: Things to do with a deck of cards
- Purple: What “Bill” might refer to
Answers for NYT Connections #605
Yellow: PARTS OF A COMPENSATION PACKAGE
BONUS, INSURANCE, SALARY, VACATION
A bonus is additional compensation, while salary is regular pay. Insurance is a common employment benefit, and vacation represents paid time off or another standard component of a benefits package. The category uses “compensation package” broadly, covering both direct pay and benefits.
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Green: INDICATION
FLAG, GIVEAWAY, SIGN, TELL
All four words can refer to an indication or clue. A flag can signal a problem or noteworthy condition. A giveaway is something that unintentionally reveals information. A sign indicates a fact or condition, and a tell is a revealing behavior or clue.
Blue: THINGS TO DO WITH A DECK OF CARDS
CUT, DEAL, FAN, SHUFFLE
These are recognizable card-handling actions: you can cut the deck, deal cards to players, fan the cards in your hand, and shuffle the deck before play. If you have a deck of playing cards nearby, each connection is easy to demonstrate.
Purple: WHAT “BILL” MIGHT REFER TO
BANKNOTE, BEAK, INVOICE, WILLIAM
This group depends on the multiple meanings of “bill.” A banknote can be called a bill, and an invoice is also a bill for goods or services. A bird’s beak is its bill, while William is the given name commonly shortened to Bill.
A sensible solve order
If you were working through the grid without the answers, the blue group is probably the cleanest foothold. CUT, DEAL, FAN, and SHUFFLE all describe actions performed with cards, making that set relatively concrete.
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Next, BONUS, INSURANCE, SALARY, and VACATION form a recognizable employment-related group. Once those eight words are removed, the indication group—FLAG, GIVEAWAY, SIGN, and TELL—becomes easier to separate from the remaining wordplay.
The final four words reveal the “Bill” connection: BANKNOTE, BEAK, INVOICE, and WILLIAM. This suggested order is based on how concrete the word relationships are, not on an official difficulty rating or reported solve statistics.
Full solution at a glance
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Parts of a compensation package | Bonus, Insurance, Salary, Vacation |
| Green | Indication | Flag, Giveaway, Sign, Tell |
| Blue | Things to do with a deck of cards | Cut, Deal, Fan, Shuffle |
| Purple | What “Bill” might refer to | Banknote, Beak, Invoice, William |
Note: Connections #605 was published on February 5, 2025. It is not the February 5, 2026 puzzle; that later date used a different puzzle number.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
What was the answer to NYT Connections #605?
The four groups were Parts of a compensation package—BONUS, INSURANCE, SALARY, VACATION; Indication—FLAG, GIVEAWAY, SIGN, TELL; Things to do with a deck of cards—CUT, DEAL, FAN, SHUFFLE; and What “Bill” might refer to—BANKNOTE, BEAK, INVOICE, WILLIAM.
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Connections #605 was published on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. It should not be confused with the separate February 5, 2026 puzzle, which had a different number.
Why is WILLIAM in the purple group?
Bill is a common shortened form of the given name William, so WILLIAM belongs with BANKNOTE, BEAK, and INVOICE—each of which can also be associated with “bill.”
The Bottom Line
NYT Connections #605, from February 5, 2025, grouped its words into compensation-package components, indications, card actions, and meanings of “Bill.” The complete sets were BONUS, INSURANCE, SALARY, VACATION; FLAG, GIVEAWAY, SIGN, TELL; CUT, DEAL, FAN, SHUFFLE; and BANKNOTE, BEAK, INVOICE, WILLIAM.
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