NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Friday, May 9.

      Connections is among the top puzzle games offered by the New York Times. The objective of the game is to categorize a set of 16 words into four hidden groups by determining their relationships. The puzzle resets nightly at midnight, with each new puzzle presenting a different level of challenge. Similar to Wordle, you can keep track of your winning streak and compare scores with friends.

      Some days prove to be more challenging than others, much like other favorites from NYT Games, such as The Mini and Strands. If you're facing difficulty with today's puzzle, consider checking our guide for tips and strategies, or look for hints provided for today's Connections puzzle below. And if you still struggle, we'll reveal today's answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on discovering links among words. Players need to identify four groups of four words, with no more than three mistakes allowed. Play now: https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

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

      You can access Connections through the New York Times website or via the NYT Games app on iOS or Android.

      In Connections, a grid of 16 words is displayed, and your goal is to organize these words into four groups of four by recognizing their connections. These groups could include categories such as titles of video game series, sequels of book series, nuances of the color red, names of restaurant chains, etc.

      While some words may seem suitable for multiple categories, there is only one completely correct solution. You have the option to shuffle the words to gain a better perspective on possible links.

      Each group is color-coded, starting from the easiest to identify (yellow), followed by green, blue, and purple.

      Select four words and hit Submit. If your selection is correct, those four words will be removed from the grid, and the connecting theme will be shown. An incorrect guess will count as a mistake, with only four mistakes permitted before the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections

      We can assist you with today’s Connections by providing the four themes. For additional help, we’ll reveal one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes

      TV DISPLAY SETTINGS

      FUZZY, AS A MEMORY

      RESULTS OF SOME ARITHMETIC

      WINDOW TREATMENTS IN THE SINGULAR

      One-answer reveals

      TV DISPLAY SETTINGS – BRIGHTNESS

      FUZZY, AS A MEMORY – DIM

      RESULTS OF SOME ARITHMETIC – DIFFERENCE

      WINDOW TREATMENTS IN THE SINGULAR – BLIND

      New York Times

      Today’s Connections answers

      Still struggling? That’s understandable. This puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you simply want to view today’s Connections answers, here they are:

      TV DISPLAY SETTINGS – BRIGHTNESS, COLOR, CONTRAST, TINT

      FUZZY, AS A MEMORY – DIM, FAINT, REMOTE, VAGUE

      RESULTS OF SOME ARITHMETIC – DIFFERENCE, PRODUCT, QUOTIENT, SUM

      WINDOW TREATMENTS IN THE SINGULAR – BLIND, DRAPE, SHADE, SHUTTER

      Connections grids widely vary and change each day. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, be sure to return tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs

      What time does the Connections puzzle reset?

      The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.

      Who is responsible for editing the NYT Connections game?

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

      “A few months ago, a new assignment came my way: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been approved and needed an editor,” Liu explained in an article detailing her process in June 2024. “My experience has largely been with crosswords, and I was eager to explore something new. I’ve enjoyed learning about the editing process once a game is approved and how our team contributes to a broader ecosystem.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections’ launch earlier this year, Liu shared this TikTok highlighting her favorite puzzles thus far:

      @thegamesteam ? celebrating one year of Connections, our latest official NYT game ? #nytgames #nytconnections #nyt ♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion – luisa_marion_music