NYT Crossword Puzzle Clues and Solutions for May 12, 2025 (Monday Edition)
Ready for some Connections fun? Here's a lowdown on the May 12, 2025, game. If you're after the answers, hang tight – I'll dish 'em out later. But for now, I've got some hints to help you get started. Remember, there will be spoilers below for May 12's Connections #701!
Bookmark this page if you'd like a quick way to return to our Connections hints daily. You can also find past hints here, in case you missed a previous challenge.
Here are some vague hints regarding the categories in today's Connections:
- Yellow – Where the loot resides
- Green – Something that bounces like light off a mirror
- Blue – A tech pro's fixation
- Purple – A kissy affair
WARNING: Here comes the main course! Proceed with caution if you don't want today's Connections spoiled.
A quick heads-up about the tricky bits
PURSE and WALLET aren't BFFs.
CAROM refers to a specific billiards shot where the ball you want to pot slams into another ball on its way.
BANK is more than a place where you get dough.
SMACK is what your mouth might do when you chow down on peanut butter.
So, what are the categories in today's Connections?
- Yellow – Money hideaways
- Green – The back-and-forth dance
- Blue – The web analytics world
- Purple – Hot and heavy smooches
** triple WARNING: Solutions ahead!**
Are you ready for the solutions to today's Connections game? Here they come.
The Yellow Words
The theme for the yellow group is Money hideaways, and the words are: ATM (Automated Teller Machine), CASH REGISTER, TIP JAR, WALLET.
The Green Words
The theme for the green category is The back-and-forth dance, and the words are: BANK, BOUNCE (meaning to spring back and forth), CAROM (a specific billiards shot), RICOCHET (a rapid succession of rebounds).
The Blue Words
The theme for the blue category is The web analytics world, and the words are: CLICK, HIT (as in web traffic), PAGE VIEW, VISIT.
The Purple Words
The theme for the purple category is Hot and heavy smooches. However, the enrichment data search didn't seem to uncover specific answers for this category.
Solving Strategies
PURSE and WALLET are both storage spots, but they don't always pair up nicely. It's more likely that PURSE goes with actions like PUCKER, SMACK, and CURL, which are all things one can do with their lips.
WALLET probably groups with ATM, CASH REGISTER, BANK, and TIP JAR, which are all dough hideaways.
BANK and RICOCHET, CAROM, and BOUNCE all refer to things that ricochet, bounce or collide with other objects.
I think HIT might go with VISIT, CLICK, and PAGE VIEW, which are all web traffic-related terms. Now, let's piece it all together – let's start with HIT, VISIT, CLICK, and PAGE VIEW, then move on to BANK, RICOCHET, CAROM, and BOUNCE. Lastly, WALLET, CASH REGISTER, ATM, and TIP JAR.
How to play Connections
Connections is a game you can find either on the New York Times website or their Games app (formerly the Crossword app). You'll see a gameboard with 16 squares, each containing one word or phrase. Your goal is to choose four squares that share a connection. Sometimes the connection is straightforward, while other times there is wordplay involved.
Select four items and hit the Submit button. If you guessed correctly, the category and color will be revealed (yellow is the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple). If your guess is incorrect, you'll get another chance.
You win when you've correctly identified all four groups. However, if you make four mistakes before you finish, the game ends and the answers will be revealed.
Secrets to Winning Connections
The key to mastering Connections is recognizing that the groupings can be tricky. Don't hit "submit" until you're certain that your group of four contains only those four things.
If you're stuck, try focusing on words that seem to have no connection to the others. If none of the obvious themes apply to a given word, such as "WHISTLER," you might be on the right track.
Another strategy is to read a few helpful hints, like these! Check back tomorrow for another puzzle.
In the Connections game on May 12, 2025, the theme for the 'Yellow' category is 'Money hideaways', where 'ATM', 'CASH REGISTER', 'TIP JAR', and 'WALLET' can be found. The 'Green' category, 'The back-and-forth dance', includes 'BANK', 'BOUNCE', 'CAROM', and 'RICOCHET'. For the 'Blue' category, 'The web analytics world', look for 'CLICK', 'HIT', 'PAGE VIEW', and 'VISIT'. However, the 'Purple' category, 'Hot and heavy smooches', seemed to lack specific answers using the provided enrichment data.
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