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Need help with NYT Connections #711 for Thursday, May 22, 2025? Start with four spoiler-light hints, then reveal the category names or the complete groups only when you’re ready.
How to play Connections
Connections gives you 16 words to sort into four groups of four, based on a shared link. The colors indicate difficulty, with purple groups often relying on wordplay; you can make up to four mistakes before the game ends. It is available on the NYT website or in the NYT Games app. A new puzzle appears at midnight in each time zone, so “today’s” puzzle can differ depending on where you are. TechRadar’s May 21 guide identifies this grid as game #711, dated May 22, 2025.
Spoiler-light hints for Connections #711
These hints point toward each group without listing the words:
- Yellow: One more thing… Look for small qualifications and exceptions.
- Green: It’s not easy being… Think of familiar characters with green skin.
- Blue: As seen in the capital. Consider landmarks or features associated with Washington, D.C.’s National Mall.
- Purple: Presenters of puzzles. Think of famous figures who pose riddles or demand answers.
Category names
Stop here if you want the category labels but not the completed groups.
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- Yellow: Fine print
- Green: Characters with green skin
- Blue: Features of the National Mall in D.C.
- Purple: Famous riddle-givers
Full Connections answers for May 22, 2025
The four groups for puzzle #711 are:
- Fine print: ASTERISK, CATCH, CONDITION, STRINGS. Each can refer to a qualification, exception, or limiting term in an offer or agreement.
- Characters with green skin: ELPHABA, GRINCH, HULK, SHREK. Elphaba is the green-skinned witch from Wicked; the other characters are also commonly depicted with green skin.
- Features of the National Mall in D.C.: CAPITOL, MALL, OBELISK, POOL. These point to the U.S. Capitol, the National Mall, the Washington Monument’s obelisk form, and the Reflecting Pool.
- Famous riddle-givers: BRIDGE TROLL, MAD HATTER, RIDDLER, SPHINX. Each is associated with riddles, puzzle questions, or demanding answers in familiar stories and popular culture.
Want to play older puzzles?
Forbes reports that players with an NYT All Access or Games subscription can access the Connections archive. Check the current NYT subscription terms for availability. Forbes’ May 21, 2025 guide also lists the puzzle grid and answer groups.
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