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Connections, a favorite word game featured in The New York Times, has swiftly turned into a daily must-try for enthusiasts of puzzles. Similar to the sensation that is Wordle, Connections invites players to uncover the “common themes among words.” Each night at midnight, a fresh puzzle is released—and the complexity increases as the week progresses. If you find yourself in a bind, don’t fret—we have hints, advice, and today’s solutions to assist you.

Prefer to jump right to the answers? Scroll down. If you’d rather tackle it on your own, keep reading for useful hints and strategies.

What Is Connections?

Connections is the newest daily word game from The New York Times, and it has already generated a buzz across social networks. Developed with the assistance of associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, this game challenges players to categorize 16 words that initially appear unconnected into four groups of four, all linked by an overarching theme.

You can play Connections via your web browser or on a mobile device. What’s the aim? To determine the correct groupings of four words based on their shared traits—these could range from film titles to varieties of fruit to phrases. Although multiple pairings may appear possible, there’s only one definitive solution.

When you successfully group four words, they disappear from the board. However, be cautious—every incorrect attempt is counted as a mistake, and you only have four chances before the game concludes.

To assist in your gameplay, feel free to shuffle the board for a different viewpoint. Each grouping is distinguished by color based on difficulty: yellow (easiest), then green, blue, and ultimately purple (most challenging). Similar to Wordle, you can share your results with friends online.

Craving more games? Check out Mashable’s gaming hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, crosswords, and beyond.

Hints for Today’s Connections Categories

In need of a gentle push without revealing too much? Below are some discreet hints for today’s categories:

– Yellow: A way you might conclude an email
– Green: Missing something
– Blue: Associated with energy or motivation
– Purple: They all have a common second word

Today’s Connections Categories Revealed

Still puzzled? Here are the official categories for today’s challenge:

– Yellow: Email sign-offs
– Green: Missing
– Blue: Energy
– Purple: ___ Strip

Looking for today’s Wordle instead? We have the solution available here.

Spoiler Alert: Today’s Connections Answers

Ready to discover the answers? Here’s the resolution to today’s Connections puzzle (#699):

– Email sign-offs: BEST, CHEERS, LOVE, SINCERELY
– Missing: ABSENT, MINUS, SANS, WANTING
– Energy: BEANS, ENERGY, PEP, ZIP
– ___ Strip: BACON, COMIC, LANDING, SUNSET

Didn’t solve it this time? No problem—Connections resets each day, presenting you with a new challenge tomorrow. And we’ll be right here with additional hints and answers to support you along the way.

In search of more puzzle excitement? Try NYT’s Strands or explore our entire range of games on Mashable.

Missed the puzzle from yesterday? You can find the May 9 Connections answers here.