The NYT Connections hints May 16 puzzle (#705) from The New York Times has once again delivered a mix of intriguing wordplay and mental challenge, leaving several players scratching their heads.
But for those determined to solve it or stuck mid-way, a breakdown of today’s puzzle can be a helpful nudge toward the right solution.
The difficulty escalates across four levels — Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (most difficult).
Available on both mobile and desktop platforms, NYT Connections continues to be a daily fixture for puzzle enthusiasts.
While today’s categories were diverse and layered, many found the Blue and Purple tiers particularly demanding, as mentioned in a report by Beebom.
But for those determined to solve it or stuck mid-way, a breakdown of today’s puzzle can be a helpful nudge toward the right solution.
A Popular Game with a Growing Fanbase
After the global success of Wordle, The New York Times introduced Connections, a word association puzzle game that has rapidly attracted a loyal player base. The game’s premise is deceptively simple: arrange 16 words into four categories of four, each unified by a shared theme.The difficulty escalates across four levels — Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (most difficult).
Available on both mobile and desktop platforms, NYT Connections continues to be a daily fixture for puzzle enthusiasts.
While today’s categories were diverse and layered, many found the Blue and Purple tiers particularly demanding, as mentioned in a report by Beebom.
Hints for Today’s Puzzle: Clues to Categories
Players unsure of where to begin or struggling to complete the final pieces of the puzzle were offered several hints to assist their progress. Here are the clues corresponding to each of the four categories in Friday’s game:- Greenery – Think types of flora found in various ecosystems.
- Put a Stop To – A group of verbs often used in policy and planning circles.
- They All Relate to Bulls – This required some cross-context knowledge from sports, astrology, and finance.
- A Hidden Connection in the Word Itself – Specifically, a unique word ending was key to deciphering this grouping.
Official Answers for May 16 Puzzle
For those who have reached the point of surrender or are simply curious to verify their guesses, the following are the correct groupings for NYT Connections #705:- KINDS OF PLANTS (Yellow Category):
Herb, Shrub, Tree, Vine - DISCONTINUE (Green Category):
Dissolve, End, Scrap, Sunset
(Note: “Sunset” here is used in its figurative sense—phasing out or retiring a policy or product.) - ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS (Blue Category):
Michael Jordan, Rodeo, Taurus, Wall Street
(This group pulls references from the Chicago Bulls, astrology, American rodeo culture, and stock market terminology.) - ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS (Purple Category):
Hollywood, Hourglass, Kubrick, Neuroplastic
(The linking factor: each term ends with a material reference — wood, glass, brick, and plastic, respectively.)
