NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Sunday, May 18

      Connections is one of the top puzzle games offered by the New York Times. In this game, you need to sort a set of 16 words into four secret groups by determining how the words are connected. The puzzle resets every night at midnight, and each new puzzle presents a varying level of difficulty. Similar to Wordle, you can monitor your winning streak and compare your scores with friends.

      Some days may pose greater challenges — similar to other popular NYT games like The Mini and Strands. If you find yourself struggling to solve today’s puzzle, refer to our Connections tips and tricks guide for useful strategies or check the hints for today’s Connections puzzle below. And if you still can’t figure it out, we will provide the answers at the end.

      How to play Connections

      Connections is a daily game focused on identifying common links among words. Players are required to select four groups of four words, allowing no more than three errors. Play now. https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

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

      You can access Connections either on the New York Times website or via the NYT Games app on iOS or Android. In Connections, you will see a grid containing 16 words — your goal is to arrange these words into four sets of four by recognizing the connections that bind them. These sets could relate to categories such as video game franchise titles, book series sequels, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, and more.

      Usually, there are words that appear to fit multiple themes, but there is only one completely accurate answer. You can shuffle the word grid and reorganize it to better assess the potential connections.

      Each group is color-coded: the yellow group is the easiest to identify, followed by the green, blue, and purple groups. Choose four words and click Submit. If your selection is correct, those four words will disappear from the grid, and the connecting theme will be shown. If you guess incorrectly, it will count as a mistake, and you can only make up to three mistakes before the game ends.

      Hints for today’s Connections

      We can assist you in solving today’s Connection by revealing the four themes. If you require further help, we will also provide one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes:

      TASKS FOR A STUDENT

      ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME

      UP FOR ANYTHING

      WHAT “A” MIGHT MEAN

      One-word clues:

      TASKS FOR A STUDENT – ASSIGNMENT

      ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME – ALMOST

      UP FOR ANYTHING – EASY

      WHAT “A” MIGHT MEAN – AREA

      New York Times

      Today’s Connections answers

      Having trouble? That’s alright. This puzzle is intentionally challenging. If you just want to view today’s Connections answers, here they are:

      TASKS FOR A STUDENT – ASSIGNMENT, DRILL, EXERCISE, LESSON

      ENCOURAGING RESPONSES IN A GUESSING GAME – ALMOST, CLOSE, NOT QUITE, WARM

      UP FOR ANYTHING – EASY, FLEXIBLE, GAME, OPEN

      WHAT “A” MIGHT MEAN – AREA, ATHLETIC, EXCELLENT, ONE

      Connections grids can vary greatly and change every day. If you weren’t able to solve today’s puzzle, make sure to return tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs

      What time does the Connections puzzle change?

      The puzzle updates 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, oversees Connections on a daily basis. “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 was looking for an editor,” Liu wrote in an article describing her process in June 2024. “Most of my puzzle experience involves crosswords, so I was eager to try something new. I have enjoyed understanding how puzzle editing works once a game is greenlit and seeing how our team fits into the broader ecosystem.”

      To mark the one-year anniversary of Connections' launch earlier this year, Liu shared this TikTok about her favorite puzzles to date:

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