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NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 23 - Puzzle #712 breakdown
Global Desk | May 23, 2025 10:01 PM CST

Synopsis

The NYT Connections game centers around a grid of 16 words, and your objective is to organize them into four groups of four. Each group is connected by a common theme, which could range from broad categories. The popularity of the game has been increasing along with other NYT games.

Image Credits: NYT
The New York Times' popular daily word game, Connections, continues to engage word enthusiasts across the globe, and Friday’s edition — Puzzle #712 — brought a fresh set of challenges for players. For those who have spent the early hours of May 23 trying to untangle the tricky web of associations, a closer look at today’s NYT Connections hints and answers may provide clarity and relief.As usual, the task involves arranging a grid of 16 words into four sets of four, with each group connected by a shared concept.

With subtle wordplay and overlapping meanings, today’s edition leaned into both logic and lateral thinking, particularly in its purple group.

Understanding How NYT Connections Works

Connections is available free on the New York Times website and the Games app. Each midnight, a new grid of 16 seemingly unrelated words becomes available, and players must deduce the correct four thematic groups.

Categories can range from concrete themes like “units of measure” to more abstract links such as “types of social events” or “things you might see in a mirror.”

Words may seem to fit multiple categories, and the challenge lies in finding the precise combination. Players are given four chances to guess incorrectly before the game ends. Hints are often helpful, especially when the purple group features wordplay or niche references.

Each group is color-coded in increasing difficulty: Yellow (easy), Green and Blue (moderate), and Purple (challenging). Today’s puzzle followed this structure but offered a few surprises, especially in the final group.

NYT Connections Hints for May 23, 2025

Players needing a nudge before viewing the final answers may have benefited from the following clues tied to today’s categories, as per a report by Parade magazine:

  • A lively gathering or celebration
  • Terms relating to internal qualities or personal makeup
  • Words associated with older British measurement systems
  • A descriptive label that connects four objects commonly seen in fashion, play, or space
For many, identifying celebratory terms and units of weight came quickly, but deciphering the trick behind the phrase “cat’s eye” proved to be a hurdle.

NYT Connections Answers: Puzzle #712

For players who reached a standstill or simply wish to confirm their guesses, here are the official solutions for Friday, May 23, as mentioned in a report by Parade magazine:

  • QUITE THE PARTY: BASH, BLAST, BLOWOUT, RAVE
  • ONE’S CONSTITUTION: CHARACTER, FIBER, MAKEUP, NATURE
  • BRITISH IMPERIAL UNITS OF WEIGHT: DRAM, OUNCE, POUND, STONE
  • WHAT “CAT’S EYE” CAN DESCRIBE: EYELINER, GLASSES, MARBLE, NEBULA

Archive Access and Puzzle Strategy

Subscribers with NYT Games or All Access plans can explore the Connections archive, revisiting previous puzzles for practice or entertainment.

Early puzzles, dating back to the game’s launch, help refine strategic thinking, especially useful for tackling purple-level wordplay.

As the word game continues to grow in popularity, sharing scores and discussing daily challenges on social media has become a communal activity.

And for those stumped in the future, searching “NYT Connections Answers” or “NYT Connections Hints” by date can yield valuable insight — just remember, spoilers await.

FAQs

Is the NYT Connection no longer free?
At present, Connections is free to play across all platforms, and no registration or sign-in is required.

Who owns the NYT now?
The New York Times Company owns the publication. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr., a member of the family that has overseen the paper since 1896, serves as both its publisher and the chairman of the company.



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