NYT Connections game #696 was released Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Start with the spoiler-free clues below; the complete word grid and four answer groups appear after a spoiler warning.
Hints for Connections #696
Try each clue before scrolling to the answers:
- Yellow: Think of a broken bone becoming whole or recovering.
- Green: Find words that can mean “excluding” or “apart from.”
- Blue: Name the four suits in tarot’s minor arcana.
- Purple: Listen for words that sound like gemstones, though they are spelled differently.
Spoiler warning: the May 7 grid and answers
The full grid is: HEAL, KNIT, MEND, RECOVER; BESIDES, BUT, EXCEPT, SAVE; CUPS, PENTACLES, SWORDS, WANDS; CHORAL, OPEL, PURL, QUARTS.
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Yellow — Get better, as a broken bone
HEAL, KNIT, MEND, RECOVER
Each word describes recovery or restoration. “Knit” is the less obvious fit: a broken bone can knit as it heals.
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BESIDES, BUT, EXCEPT, SAVE
These words can express exclusion or an exception, depending on how they are used in a sentence.
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Blue — Tarot minor-arcana suits
CUPS, PENTACLES, SWORDS, WANDS
These are the four suits of the tarot’s minor arcana.
Purple — Homophones of gemstones
CHORAL, OPEL, PURL, QUARTS
This group is based on pronunciation, not spelling: CHORAL sounds like CORAL, OPEL like OPAL, PURL like PEARL, and QUARTS like QUARTZ.
How Connections works
The New York Times Help Center explains: “Players are given 16 words and must find groups of four items that share something in common.” The groups are color-coded: yellow is generally the easiest and purple the trickiest. The challenge is that several words may seem to fit overlapping ideas, even though each puzzle has one solution.
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Why the date and game number matter
This is the historical puzzle numbered #696, dated May 7, 2025. Including both the year and game number distinguishes it from puzzles released on May 7 in other years. The New York Times says the daily puzzle releases at midnight in each player’s timezone, so the calendar date may differ by location.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play or find older puzzles
The New York Times Help Center lists the Games app, NYTimes.com’s Connections page, and other NYT platforms as ways to play. It also says the Connections archive extends back to June 12, 2023, with full archive access for All Access and Games subscribers. Check the live help page for current access terms.
Quick Recap
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