NYT Connections: clues and responses for Monday, May 5

      Connections is among the top puzzle games offered by the New York Times. The game challenges you to categorize a set of 16 words into four hidden (for now) groups by deciphering how the words are related. Each puzzle resets at midnight, with varying levels of difficulty each day. Similar to Wordle, you can track your winning streak and compare your results with friends.

      Some days present more challenges than others, akin to other popular NYT Games such as The Mini and Strands. If you're facing difficulty with today's puzzle, check out our guide on Connections tips and tricks for helpful strategies, or glance at the hints for today's puzzle below. And if you're still struggling, we’ll provide today’s answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on uncovering common links between words. Players need to choose four groups of four words without exceeding three mistakes. Play now. https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

      — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024

      You can engage with Connections via the New York Times website or the NYT Games app available on iOS and Android.

      In Connections, you'll see a grid with 16 words — your goal is to arrange these words into four groups of four by recognizing the connections that unite them. These groups could include themes such as titles from video game franchises, sequels of book series, shades of red, or names of chain restaurants.

      Some words may appear to fit multiple categories, but there is only one completely correct combination. You can shuffle the word grid and rearrange it to better visualize potential connections.

      Each group is color-coded. The easiest group to identify is yellow, followed by green, blue, and purple.

      Select four words and click Submit. If correct, the four words will be eliminated from the grid, and the connecting theme will be unveiled. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake, and you have a limit of four mistakes before the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections

      We can assist you in solving today’s Connections by sharing the four themes. If you require more help, we'll also provide one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes

      GLIDE

      ASSOCIATED WITH COUNT DRACULA

      STOP CHANGING

      THINGS THAT ARE LONG AND CYLINDRICAL

      One-answer reveals

      GLIDE – COAST

      ASSOCIATED WITH COUNT DRACULA – BAT

      STOP CHANGING – FLATTEN

      THINGS THAT ARE LONG AND CYLINDRICAL – BATON

      New York Times

      Today’s Connections answers

      Still having trouble? That’s alright. This puzzle is intentionally challenging. If you merely want to see today’s Connections answers, they are provided below:

      GLIDE – COAST, CRUISE, DRIFT, FLOAT

      ASSOCIATED WITH COUNT DRACULA – BAT, CAPE, CASTLE, FANG

      STOP CHANGING – FLATTEN, LEVEL, PLATEAU, SETTLE

      THINGS THAT ARE LONG AND CYLINDRICAL – BATON, CIGAR, HOAGIE, TORPEDO

      Connections grids fluctuate greatly and change daily. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, make sure to return tomorrow.

      NYT Connections FAQs

      What time does the Connections puzzle update?

      The puzzle refreshes every day at midnight local time.

      Who is in charge of the NYT Connections game?

      Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, oversees Connections daily.

      “A few months ago, a new assignment came my way: Create the game boards for Connections, a category-matching game that had recently received approval and was looking for an editor,” Liu explained in a June 2024 article detailing her process. “Most of my puzzle experience has been with crosswords, and I was thrilled to try something new. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing unfolds once a game is approved, and observing how our team integrates into a wider ecosystem.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections this year, Liu shared this TikTok highlighting her favorite puzzles so far:

      @thegamesteam Happy one-year anniversary to Connections, our newest official NYT game #nytgames #nytconnections #nyt ♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion – luisa_marion_music