Need a nudge for NYT Connections puzzle #718, published Thursday, May 29, 2025? Start with the four clues below; the full categories and word groups follow after a spoiler warning.
Hints for Connections #718
- A way to show admiration or recognition.
- Something appropriate or well-matched.
- Actions used to add a finishing touch to a sweet snack.
- Different meanings of one word: “buff.”
Spoiler warning: answers below
The category names and all sixteen words are revealed below.
Yellow: Salute
- APPLAUD
- HAIL
- HONOR
- PRAISE
Green: Suitable
- APT
- FIT
- PROPER
- RIGHT
Blue: Verbs for finishing donuts
- FROST
- GLAZE
- POWDER
- SPRINKLE
Purple: What “buff” might mean
- ENTHUSIAST
- MUSCULAR
- NUDE
- POLISH
Why HAIL can mislead
HAIL belongs with APPLAUD, HONOR and PRAISE in the recognition group, but it can also look like a weather word. TechRadar’s contributor describes first grouping HAIL with FROST, POWDER and SPRINKLE as snow-related terms, then spotting the donut-finishing connection. That is one solver’s account, not a general difficulty measure. TechRadar’s May 29 guide also describes the purple set as different senses of “buff”: an enthusiast, muscular, nude, or polish.
How Connections works
The New York Times Help Center explains: “Players are given 16 words and must find groups of four items that share something in common.” The four groups are color-coded; yellow is the easiest and purple the trickiest. The daily puzzle releases at midnight in the player’s timezone. NYT Help Center: Connections
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Playing this puzzle after May 29
The New York Times says its Connections archive includes puzzles dating back to June 12, 2023, and that archive access is for All Access and Games subscribers. Check the Help Center for current eligibility and access details before trying to open an older puzzle. NYT Help Center: Connections
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