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The NYT Connections hints and answers for June 29 refer to Sunday, June 29, 2025, puzzle #749—not June 29, 2026. Its four groups were ICE CREAM TREATS, FLINCH, DANCE MOVES, and things seen in the aftermath of a rainstorm, with FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, and SUNDAE forming the yellow group.
Below are spoiler-safe clues followed by the complete answers and an explanation of why each set works.
Key takeaways
- Connections #749 was the Sunday, June 29, 2025, New York Times puzzle, not a June 29, 2026 puzzle.
- The four groups were ICE CREAM TREATS, FLINCH, DANCE MOVES, and things seen in the aftermath of a rainstorm.
- The complete answers were FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, SUNDAE; BOLT, JERK, JUMP, STARTLE; CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, ROBOT; and EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, PUDDLE.
- The dessert group is the most specific starting point, while the purple rainstorm group is the broadest and most scenario-based.
- Connections presents 16 words divided into four groups of four and deliberately includes red herrings that can fit more than one possible theme.
What are the NYT Connections hints and answers for June 29?
The NYT Connections hints and answers for June 29 concern puzzle #749, played on Sunday, June 29, 2025. If you want to solve it without seeing the full solution immediately, use the hints below in order: frozen-dessert menu items; sudden reactions caused by surprise or fear; recognizable named dances; and things you might notice outside after a storm.
The date matters because June 29, 2026 was a later puzzle with a different number. The answers below are specifically for the June 29, 2025 game, as cross-checked by TechRadar’s dated guide to Connections #749, Parade’s June 29 answer guide, and an independent Connections answer archive.
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What were the spoiler-safe hints for Connections #749?
These hints move from the least revealing category to the most revealing. They describe the connection without listing the four entries.
| Color | Hint | How revealing is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Think of items on a frozen-dessert menu. | Most concrete starting point |
| Green | These describe sudden reactions or movements caused by surprise or fear. | Moderately direct |
| Blue | These are recognizable named dances or dance actions. | Depends on cultural familiarity |
| Purple | Think about what you might see outside after a storm. | Broadest and most open-ended |
What are the Connections #749 answers?
The complete solution for Connections #749 is shown below. The category names are capitalized to make the four intended groups easy to scan.
| Color | Category | Four answers | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | ICE CREAM TREATS | FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, SUNDAE | Ice-cream-based treats or dessert preparations |
| Green | FLINCH | BOLT, JERK, JUMP, STARTLE | Sudden movements or reactions to surprise or fear |
| Blue | DANCE MOVES | CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, ROBOT | Recognizable named dances or dance moves |
| Purple | SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM | EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, PUDDLE | Things a person might see after rain |
Why does the yellow group contain FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, and SUNDAE?
The yellow group is ICE CREAM TREATS: FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, and SUNDAE. A root beer float, ice-cream shake, banana split, and sundae are all familiar frozen-dessert preparations. The group is the best place to begin because the four words point toward a relatively specific food theme rather than a broad situation.
Why are BOLT, JERK, JUMP, and STARTLE grouped under FLINCH?
The green group is FLINCH. BOLT, JERK, JUMP, and STARTLE can each describe a sudden movement or reaction associated with surprise or fear. “Startle” is the clearest emotional clue, while “bolt,” “jerk,” and “jump” can initially seem to belong to other movement-related categories.
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Why are CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, and ROBOT dance moves?
The blue group is DANCE MOVES: CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, and ROBOT. The entries are not all formatted alike—CABBAGE PATCH is a two-word phrase, while FLOSS, MOONWALK, and ROBOT are single-word names—but each refers to a recognizable dance or dance action.
This group also creates a useful red herring. BOLT, JERK, and JUMP describe movement, so a solver might temporarily consider them dance-related before STARTLE makes the FLINCH group clearer.
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Why is the purple category about the aftermath of a rainstorm?
The purple group is SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM: EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, and PUDDLE. The four words are linked by a scene or circumstance rather than by one strict grammatical pattern. Earthworms may emerge, mud and puddles may collect, and mushrooms may become noticeable after wet weather.
The purple category is therefore more open-ended than the dessert, reaction, and dance groups. That broad scenario-based connection is typical of the puzzle’s hardest color, but the category becomes straightforward once the other 12 words have been removed.
How should you solve this Connections puzzle?
The most reliable solving path for #749 is to identify the tightest concrete group first, then use elimination and word behavior to test the remaining categories.
- Start with the dessert words. FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, and SUNDAE form the most specific set. Remove them together if the ice-cream connection is clear.
- Look for a reaction cluster. BOLT, JERK, JUMP, and STARTLE all describe sudden reactions or movements. “Startle” helps confirm that the intended idea is FLINCH rather than dancing.
- Recognize the named dances. CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, and ROBOT are culturally recognizable dance names. Their different word forms do not prevent them from forming one group.
- Use the remaining words for the purple group. EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, and PUDDLE all fit a post-rain outdoor scene.
How does the Connections format create red herrings?
Connections gives players 16 words and asks them to divide the words into four groups of four. Each category has a color: yellow is intended to be easiest, followed by green and blue, while purple is intended to be the trickiest. The official New York Times explanation says, “Connections is a word game that challenges players to find themes between words.” You can read the official New York Times Connections rules and access information for the game’s format and guidance.
The difficulty comes from plausible alternate relationships. In #749, movement words such as BOLT, JERK, and JUMP can distract solvers toward the dance category, even though the intended group is FLINCH. The game rewards finding four words that share one strong connection, not merely finding a connection that can be applied loosely to several words.
What can you play after solving Connections #749?
If you want more connection-style puzzles in print, The Complete Kennections is a related trivia-book option from Ken Jennings. Simon & Schuster describes the book as offering 5,000 questions in 1,000 puzzles for trivia fans and New York Times Connections puzzlers. It is not an official New York Times Connections product and does not claim to reproduce puzzle #749.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Connections puzzle was played on June 29, 2025?
The NYT Connections puzzle for June 29, 2025, was puzzle #749. Its groups were ICE CREAM TREATS, FLINCH, DANCE MOVES, and SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM.
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What was the purple category in Connections #749?
The purple category in Connections #749 was SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM. Its answers were EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, and PUDDLE.
What was the yellow group in NYT Connections on June 29?
The yellow group was ICE CREAM TREATS, containing FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, and SUNDAE. Those words refer to familiar ice-cream-based desserts or preparations.
The Bottom Line
Connections #749, played June 29, 2025, resolves to ICE CREAM TREATS, FLINCH, DANCE MOVES, and SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM. Start with FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, and SUNDAE, then use the remaining words to expose the reaction, dance, and post-rain groups.
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