NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Friday, May 16.

      Connections is one of the top puzzle games offered by the New York Times. In this game, you are challenged to categorize a pool of 16 words into four hidden groups by determining how the words are related. The puzzle resets every night at midnight, and each new puzzle presents a different level of difficulty. Similar to Wordle, you can track your winning streak and compare your scores with friends.

      Some days are more challenging than others, much like other favorites from NYT Games such as The Mini and Strands. If you’re having difficulty with today’s puzzle, take a look at our Connections tips and tricks guide for useful strategies or check the hints for today’s Connections puzzle provided below. If you still can’t solve it, we’ll share the answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on identifying common links among words. Players must select four groups of four words without exceeding three mistakes. You can play now at https://t.co/YITfSnqODb. pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

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

      You can enjoy Connections on the New York Times website or through the NYT Games app available on iOS and Android.

      In Connections, you’ll see a grid of 16 words, with your goal being to sort these words into four sets of four by finding the connections that unite them. These sets might include categories like titles of video game series, sequels of book series, variations of red, and names of chain restaurants, among others.

      Typically, there are words that appear to fit several categories, but there is only one completely correct answer. You can shuffle the grid and rearrange the words to clarify the potential connections.

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

      Choose four words and click Submit. If your selection is correct, the four words will be removed from the grid, and the connecting theme will be disclosed. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake, and you have a total of four mistakes allowable before the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections

      We can assist you in solving today's Connections puzzle by providing the four themes. If you need extra help, we’ll also share one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes

      KINDS OF PLANTS

      DISCONTINUE

      ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS

      ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS

      One-answer reveals

      KINDS OF PLANTS – HERB

      DISCONTINUE – DISSOLVE

      ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS – MICHAEL JORDAN

      ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS – HOLLYWOOD

      New York Times

      Today's Connections answers

      Still having trouble? That's perfectly fine. This puzzle is intended to be challenging. If you just want to see today's Connections answers, we have them below:

      KINDS OF PLANTS – HERB, SHRUB, TREE, VINE

      DISCONTINUE – DISSOLVE, END, SCRAP, SUNSET

      ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS – MICHAEL JORDAN, RODEO, TAURUS, WALL STREET

      ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS – HOLLYWOOD, HOURGLASS, KUBRIOCK, NEUROPLASTIC

      Connections grids change daily and vary significantly. If you were unable to solve today’s puzzle, be sure to return tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs

      When does the Connections puzzle refresh?

      The puzzle refreshes daily at midnight local time.

      Who edits 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 back, a new task came my way: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been approved and needed an editor,” Liu mentioned in an article about her process in June 2024. "Most of my puzzle experience has been focused on crosswords, and I was excited for the opportunity to explore something different. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing works once a game is approved and understanding the role our team plays in the larger process."

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