NYT Connections hints and answers for May 17, 2025

NYT Connections is back with another fun and brain-teasing challenge for your Saturday! If you're ready to flex your puzzle-solving skills, today's puzzle (#706) is packed with everything from biology to technology. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the game, today's word groupings might throw you off at first glance, but don’t worry. We’ve got the hints, strategies, and full answers you need to solve it. If you're trying to figure out where MACARONI fits in or what connects RULER with SYRINGE, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in and help you crack today’s Connections.NYT Connections is a daily word game from The New York Times that challenges players to sort a grid of 16 seemingly random words into four groups of four. Each group shares a common theme ranging from the obvious (colors, countries) to the abstract (homophones, tech terms, or animal species). It’s designed to test your pattern recognition and lateral thinking. The game updates every day and has quickly become a favourite among puzzle enthusiasts for its clever wordplay and rising difficulty.Start with 16 Words: You’re presented with a grid of 16 words.Group by Category: Your task is to find four groups of four words that are related by a shared category.Submit Guesses: When you think you’ve found a valid group, select the four words and click “Submit.”Color-Coded Categories:Yellow: EasiestGreen: ModerateBlue: HardPurple: Most difficult or abstractFour Strikes Rule: You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the game ends.Shuffle for Clarity: If you're stuck, use the shuffle feature to mix up the grid and get a fresh perspective.Before we reveal the answers, here are today’s hints to help you think through the connections:Yellow: Think biology, these are life forms categorized by kingdom.Green: Tools that are marked or measured in some way.Blue: kinds of tuxedoed birds live in polar regions and can’t fly.Purple: Add a lowercase “e” in front, and you’ll be surfing the internet.Yellow – Member of a Kingdom in TaxonomyANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANTGreen – Graduated Instruments BEAKER, RULER, PROTRACTOR, SYRINGEBlue – Kinds of Penguins EMPEROR, KING, CHINSTRAP, MACARONIPurple – “E” ThingsCOMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE (As in e-commerce, e-mail, e-scooter, e-signature)If you didn’t get it today, don’t worry. Each puzzle is a fresh opportunity to learn new associations. Come back tomorrow for more hints and answers for the May 18, 2025 edition of NYT Connections.