NYT Connections puzzle #645, for Monday, March 17, 2025, groups the sixteen tiles into FILAMENT, UNINHIBITEDNESS, KINDS OF TRUCKS, and BANDS MINUS THE NUMBER FIVE. The purple group is the trickiest: remove “Five” from four band names to reveal the answers.
Connections #645 answers for March 17
Here are the four groups and their tiles:
| Category | Answers |
|---|---|
| FILAMENT | FIBER, STRAND, STRING, THREAD |
| UNINHIBITEDNESS | ABANDON, FREEDOM, SPONTANEITY, UNRESTRAINT |
| KINDS OF TRUCKS | DUMP, GARBAGE, MONSTER, PICKUP |
| BANDS MINUS THE NUMBER FIVE | BEN FOLDS, JACKSON, MAROON, MC |
The sixteen tiles are divided into four groups of four. The answer list and category names are also reported by TechRadar and The Economic Times.
Why the tiles fit their groups
FILAMENT
FIBER, STRAND, STRING, and THREAD can each describe a thin, thread-like material.
UNINHIBITEDNESS
ABANDON, FREEDOM, SPONTANEITY, and UNRESTRAINT relate to acting freely, without inhibition or restraint.
#1 Best Overall
KINDS OF TRUCKS
DUMP, GARBAGE, MONSTER, and PICKUP each identify a type of truck.
BANDS MINUS THE NUMBER FIVE
Each answer is what remains after removing “Five” from a band name: BEN FOLDS Five, Jackson 5, Maroon 5, and MC5 become BEN FOLDS, JACKSON, MAROON, and MC. This wordplay makes the purple set less direct than the category based on truck types.
Rank #2
How to approach the puzzle
Connections asks players to sort sixteen terms into four groups of four based on a shared link. The categories can involve wordplay as well as straightforward associations, and misleading overlaps can make a plausible guess less certain. For this board, look for the direct meanings first, then check whether a less obvious shared transformation explains the remaining terms. The game is available through the NYT Games site on desktop and mobile, as described in the general game overview.
Quick Recap
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.
