Recommended Free Tools
Spoilers for NYT Connections #687, published Monday, April 28, 2025. The four groups are HAIR PRODUCTS, AUSTERE, CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE, and WEARY. If you want to solve it yourself first, start with the hints below; the complete word groups follow.
Hints for Connections #687
- Yellow: For styling.
- Green: Pared back.
- Blue: Vital evidence.
- Purple: Pooped.
Answers for April 28, 2025
The grid contains MOUSSE, DRAIN, BARE, TIRE, HAIR, BORE, TIRE MARK, EXHAUST, PLAIN, SPRAY, SPARE, FIBER, WAX, SIMPLE, FINGERPRINT, and GEL.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Yellow — HAIR PRODUCTS
GEL, MOUSSE, SPRAY, WAX
Green — AUSTERE
BARE, PLAIN, SIMPLE, SPARE
Blue — CLUES AT A CRIME SCENE
FIBER, FINGERPRINT, HAIR, TIRE MARK
Purple — WEARY
BORE, DRAIN, EXHAUST, TIRE
Why the trickiest words fit
The puzzle’s misdirection comes from words with more than one plausible association. HAIR belongs with crime-scene evidence, not the styling products; GEL, MOUSSE, SPRAY, and WAX make up that separate group. TIRE MARK is physical evidence, while TIRE belongs in WEARY: as a verb, to tire someone is to make them tired. BORE, DRAIN, and EXHAUST share that tiring or depleting sense.
Likewise, BARE, PLAIN, SIMPLE, and SPARE describe something unadorned or minimally furnished. Their connection is not that they are identical in every context, but that each can convey austerity.
#1 Best Overall
TechRadar’s April 27, 2025 guide gives these hints as “For styling,” “Pared back,” “Vital evidence,” and “Pooped,” and notes the car-part misdirection. ComingSoon independently reports the April 28 date, puzzle number, grid, and categories: TechRadar’s Connections #687 guide and ComingSoon’s April 28 answers.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
