Need help with NYT Connections game #697? The May 8, 2025 puzzle asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Use the hints below for a nudge, or skip to the spoiler-marked solutions.
Hints for Connections #697
These clues move from a broad hint toward the category ideas. Stop when you have enough to solve the grid.
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- Written composition.
- Things used in a popular game.
- Film characters.
- Add a word that rhymes with “thick.”
The 16 words in the grid
PEN, CUP, JOY, WICK, CHOP, CANDLE, OCEAN, DICE, YARD, PENCIL, AUTHOR, BOND, COMPOSE, JONES, SCORECARD, WRITE.
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Connections #697 answers
Spoilers below.
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| COMMIT TO PAPER | AUTHOR, COMPOSE, PEN, WRITE | Each can describe putting words on paper. |
| NEEDS FOR PLAYING YAHTZEE | CUP, DICE, PENCIL, SCORECARD | These are the four items named in the puzzle’s Yahtzee grouping. |
| HEROES OF ACTION MOVIE FRANCHISES | BOND, JONES, OCEAN, WICK | James Bond, Indiana Jones, Danny Ocean, and John Wick are the characters. |
| ___STICK | CANDLE, CHOP, JOY, YARD | Add “stick” to make candlestick, chopstick, joystick, and yardstick. |
Why the action-movie group can be tricky
Three surnames may be quick to recognize: Bond, Jones, and Wick. OCEAN points to Danny Ocean, the lead character in the Ocean’s film franchise, so it may feel less obvious than the other entries.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.About this puzzle
This is Connections game #697, published Thursday, May 8, 2025. Connections is a grouping game: identify four sets of four words that share a category. TechRadar’s May 8 guide gives the word grid, hints, and category explanations; Try Hard Guides’ answer guide independently confirms the date, game number, and solutions.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
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