Today’s Connections Answer: May 16 hints

Trying to find the connections in a game of Connections might get tricky, depending on how much the categories of a certain day differ from our vocabulary. If you need a nod in the right direction to figure out the answers, you have come to the right place.

The New York Times launched Connections in mid-2023, and the game has quickly gained popularity as a daily activity. Each day, the game presents sixteen different words in a 4×4 grid. Your goal is to find the eponymous connections between them. They are split into four categories, but you don’t know which categories these are when you start playing; you must look at all the words and try to deduce yourself.

To guess, simply select the four words you think are grouped together and click the Submit button. Doing so, you get feedback from the game on whether it was a correct guess or it cost you a “life.” You have a maximum of three mistakes to make each day, and making a fourth mistake means you lose.

With a correct guess, the selected words are removed from the “pool” and grouped together to reveal the name of their category. The four categories are color-coded in yellow, green, blue, and purple, where yellow is traditionally the most straightforward and purple is the trickiest.

Keep reading to find a few hints, the categories, and the answers for today’s Connections. Each of them is split in a different section, so as to not spoil the answers unintentionally.

Hints for today’s Connections (May 16)

A few hints for today’s categories of Connections (#340) are:

• 🟨 Yellow group: image
• 🟩 Green group: guarantee
• 🟦 Blue group: smooth
• 🟪 Purple group: this category has a blank space in it

We don’t want to make it too simple or obvious at first for those who only need a nod in the right direction. But if those still don’t ring a bell, you might need the actual names of each category.

That is where the next section comes in. Keep reading to learn more.

Today’s Connections categories (May 16)

The categories that connect today’s words in Connections (#340) are:

• 🟨 Yellow group: photo
• 🟩 Green group: assure, as a victory
• 🟦 Blue group: move in an effortless way
• 🟪 Purple group: ___ blanket

Knowing the categories might give away most or all the answers, but we know that sometimes it can still be tricky to figure out which ones go where.

If you’re still unsure and don’t have any more room for mistakes, check out the actual answers for each category below.

Today’s Connections answers (May 16)

The answers to today’s Connections puzzle (#340) are:

• 🟨 Photo: PIC, SHOT, SNAP, STILL
• 🟩 Assure, as a victory: CINCH, ICE, LOCK, SECURE
• 🟦 Move in an effortless way: BREEZE, COAST, GLIDE, SAIL
• 🟪 ___ blanket: PICNIC, SECURITY, THROW, WET

Past Connections answers

May 15 (#339)

• 🟨 Bit of legislation: ACT, BILL, MEASURE, RESOLUTION
• 🟩 Grassland: MEADOW, PLAIN, PRAIRIE, SAVANNA
• 🟦 Forthright: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, STRAIGHT
• 🟪 Car companies minus letter: AURA, BUCK, DOGE, HODA

May 14 (#338)

• 🟨 Early iteration: DRAFT, OUTLINE, PLAN, SKETCH
• 🟩 Enjoy a meal: DINE, FEAST, FEED, SUP
• 🟦 Spanish pronouns: ELLA, ME, SUS, YO
• 🟪 Slim ____: FIT, JIM, PICKINGS, SHADY

May 13 (#337)

• 🟨 Fashion designer’s output: BRAND, COLLECTION, LABEL, LINE
• 🟩 Playground verbs: DODGE, HIDE, HOP, TAG
• 🟦 Looney Tunes figures: BUNNY, DUCK, MARTIAN, PIG
• 🟪 Homophones of musicals: GREECE, HARE, KATZ, MAIM

May 12 (#336)

• 🟨 Playfully poke fun at: KID, NEEDLE, RIB, TEASE
• 🟩 Cuts of beef: CHUCK, FLANK, LOIN, ROUND
• 🟦 Acronyms: MIA, OMG, PIN, RAM
• 🟪 Cocktails minus place names: LIBRE, MAMA, MULE, SLING

May 11 (#335)

• 🟨 One with top billing: HEADLINER, LEAD, PRINCIPAL, STAR
• 🟩 Vampire vulnerabilities: CROSS, GARLIC, SILVER, SUN
• 🟦 Satirical publications, familiarly: CRACKED, LAMPOON, MAD, ONION
• 🟪 Club ___: MED, MUSIC, SANDWICH, SODA

May 10 (#334)

• 🟨 Chutzpah: BRASS, CHEEK, GALL, NERVE
• 🟩 Accessories for dog walking: COLLAR, HALTER, HARNESS, LEAD
• 🟦 Things that spin: CAROUSEL, GLOBE, RECORD, TOP
• 🟪 Lead singers of ’70s rock bands: FERRY, MERCURY, NICKS, PLANT

May 9 (#333)

• 🟨 Container closures: CAP, CORK, LID, TAB
• 🟩 Duration: PERIOD, SPELL, STRETCH, TIME
• 🟦 Regulate: CHECK, CONTAIN, CURB, LIMIT
• 🟪 Trademarks of a platypus: BILL, EGG, FUR, VENOM

May 8 (#332)

• 🟨 Shades of red: BRICK, CHERRY, ROSE, RUBY
• 🟩 Little bit of a beverage: DROP, SPLASH, SPOT, SPRINKLE
• 🟦 Choicest: BEST, CREAM, PICK, TOP
• 🟪 ___ bath: BIRD, BUBBLE, MUD, SPONGE

May 7 (#331)

• 🟨 Deli bread options: BUN, HERO, ROLL, WRAP
• 🟩 Slang for mouth: CHOPS, KISSER, TRAP, YAP
• 🟦 Keep rhythm with music: BOB, CLAP, SNAP, TAP
• 🟪 Round of ___: APPLAUSE, DRINKS, FUNDING, GOLF

May 6 (#330)

• 🟨 Connect: COUPLE, JOIN, LINK, TIE
• 🟩 Nuisance: BOTHER, HANDFUL, PAIN, PEST
• 🟦 Quantity words: FEW, MANY, SEVERAL, SOME
• 🟪 Tarot cards, with “The”: FOOL, LOVERS, MAGICIAN, TOWER

May 5 (#329)

• 🟨 Something gained from hard work: BENEFIT, FRUIT, RETURN, REWARD
• 🟩 Kinds of bagels: EGG, EVERYTHING, PLAIN, POPPY
• 🟦 Contribute to a movie: ACT, DIRECT, PRODUCE, WRITE
• 🟪 Starts of monsters: FRANK, MUM, VAMP, WERE

May 4 (#328)

• 🟨 Enjoy: FANCY, LOVE, RELISH, SAVOR
• 🟩 Filler words: LIKE, LITERALLY, UM, WELL
• 🟦 Components of a lock: CYLINDER, PIN, SPRING, TUMBLER
• 🟪 Homophones of units of measure: CARROT, HURTS, JEWEL, OM

May 3 (#327)

• 🟨 Nightspots: BAR, CLUB, DISCO, LOUNGE
• 🟩 Cast off: DITCH, DROP, LOSE, SHED
• 🟦 Units of length: FATHOM, FOOT, LEAGUE, YARD
• 🟪 ___ sale: BAKE, CLEARANCE, GARAGE, SAMPLE

May 2 (#326)

• 🟨 Highly skilled: ACE, CRACKERJACK, EXPERT, HOTSHOT
• 🟩 Used to fix a flat: CHOCK, JACK, TIRE, WRENCH
• 🟦 Joaquin Phoenix movies: GLADIATOR, HER, JOKER, SIGNS
• 🟪 Words starting with music genres: POPCORN, RAPTURE, ROCKETRY, SOULMATE

May 1 (#325)

• 🟨 Features of a pair of jeans: BUTTON, FLY, POCKET, RIVET
• 🟩 Objects in 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensional space: LINE, PLANE, POINT, SOLID
• 🟦 Web browser menus: FILE, HISTORY, VIEW, WINDOW
• 🟪 Member of ’60s band: ANIMAL, DOOR, KINK, SUPREME

April 30 (#324)

• 🟨 Dipping sauces: AIOLI, BARBECUE, MARINARA, RANCH
• 🟩 Interrogate: EXAMINE, GRILL, PROBE, QUESTION
• 🟦 Transaction record: BILL, INVOICE, RECEIPT, STATEMENT
• 🟪 What “stock” might mean: ANCESTRY, BROTH, CATTLE, MERCHANDISE

April 29 (#323)

• 🟨 Exercises: BRIDGE, CRUNCH, DIP, SQUAT
• 🟩 Featured in Westerns: BOUNTY, COWBOY, DUEL, SALOON
• 🟦 Leaders who received the Nobel Peace Prize: CARTER, GORE, KING, TUTU
• 🟪 ___ bee: BUSY, HONEY, QUEEN, SPELLING

April 28 (#322)

• 🟨 Passionate, as a feeling: DEEP, EXTREME, FIERCE, INTENSE
• 🟩 Bang into: BUMP, BUTT, KNOCK, RAM
• 🟦 Analog TV interference: FUZZ, NOISE, SNOW, STATIC
• 🟪 ___ Mary: BLOODY, HAIL, PROUD, VIRGIN

April 27 (#321)

• 🟨 Trust as real: ACCEPT, BELIEVE, BUY, SWALLOW
• 🟩 Power issues: OUTAGE, SHORT, SPIKE, SURGE
• 🟦 Summary: ABSTRACT, BRIEF, DIGEST, OUTLINE
• 🟪 Name homophones: CURT, HAIRY, KNEEL, WANE

April 26 (#320)

• 🟨 Refined sensibility: ELEGANCE, GRACE, STYLE, TASTE
• 🟩 Catch some rays: BAKE, BASK, SUN, TAN
• 🟦 Emotionally sway: AFFECT, IMPACT, MOVE, TOUCH
• 🟪 Numbers with first letters replaced by “S”: SEN, SIGHT, SINE, SOUR

April 25 (#319)

• 🟨 Lab equipment: BEAKER, DROPPER, GOGGLES, MICROSCOPE
• 🟩 Nexus: CENTER, HEART, HUB, NUCLEUS
• 🟦 Spreadsheet terms: CELL, FORMULA, SHEET, SORT
• 🟪 ___ language: BODY, LOVE, ROMANCE, SIGN

April 24 (#318)

• 🟨 Taco toppings: CILANTRO, LIME, ONION, SALSA
• 🟩 Metric prefixes: KILO, MEGA, MICRO, PICO
• 🟦 Kinds of skirts: MINI, PENCIL, POODLE, WRAP
• 🟪 Words with “hill”: CAPITOL, FAITH, FOOT, MOLE

April 23 (#317)

• 🟨 Throw out: BOOT, BOUNCE, EJECT, TOSS
• 🟩 Terra firma: EARTH, GROUND, LAND, SOIL
• 🟦 Seas: BALTIC, BLACK, PHILIPPINE, RED
• 🟪 Tom Hanks movies: BIG, PHILADELPHIA, SPLASH, SULLY

April 22 (#316)

• 🟨 Slang for friend: BUD, CHUM, MATE, PAL
• 🟩 Adjectives for a basement: COLD, DANK, DARK, MUSTY
• 🟦 Stubble: FUZZ, SCRUFF, SHADOW, WHISKERS
• 🟪 Collection of money: FUND, KITTY, POOL, POT

April 21 (#315)

• 🟨 Embodiment: EXAMPLE, IDEAL, MODEL, SYMBOL
• 🟩 Related to trains: CAR, CONDUCTOR, STATION, TRACK
• 🟦 Starting with the same sound: CYMBAL, SCIMITAR, SIMMER, SYMPHONY
• 🟪 Ear___: DRUM, MARK, WAX, WIG

April 20 (#314)

• 🟨 Balderdash: BUNK, CROCK, HOGWASH, HORSEFEATHERS
• 🟩 Track and field equipment: BATON, HAMMER, HURDLE, POLE
• 🟦 Parts of a Devil costume: GOATEE, HORNS, PITCHFORK, TAIL
• 🟪 Types of knots: BEND, BOWLINE, HITCH, SHEEPSHANK

April 19 (#313)

• 🟨 Attach with adhesive: ADHERE, GLUE, PASTE, STICK
• 🟩 Published lines: COPY, TEXT, WORDS, WRITING
• 🟦 Diamond qualities: CARAT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT
• 🟪 A-___: LIST, OK, PLUS, ROD

April 18 (#312)

• 🟨 Sidewalk sights: CURB, GRATE, GUTTER, MANHOLE
• 🟩 Have in mind: AIM, INTEND, MEAN, PLAN
• 🟦 Unit abbreviations: CAL, GAL, IN, OZ
• 🟪 Golden ___: FLEECE, GIRLS, PARACHUTE, RULE

April 17 (#311)

• 🟨 Upright support: COLUMN, PILLAR, POLE, POST
• 🟩 Heed, as rules: FOLLOW, MIND, OBSERVE, REGARD
• 🟦 Allotment: INTEREST, PERCENTAGE, SHARE, STAKE
• 🟪 Gathered by spies: DIRT, INFORMATION, INTELLIGENCE, SECRETS

April 16 (#310)

• 🟨 Flabbergast: FLOOR, ROCK, SHOCK, SURPRISE
• 🟩 Bit of journalism: ARTICLE, FEATURE, REPORT, STORY
• 🟦 On the same plane: EVEN, FLAT, FLUSH, LEVEL
• 🟪 Theater sections: BALCONY, BOX, ORCHESTRA, STAGE

April 15 (#309)

• 🟨 Invent as you go: AD-LIB, FREESTYLE, IMPROV, MAKE UP
• 🟩 Things babies do: BABBLE, COO, CRAWL, NURSE
• 🟦 Superficial: COSMETIC, EXTERNAL, SHALLOW, SURFACE
• 🟪 ___ effect: BUTTERFLY, DOMINO, PLACEBO, SIDE

April 14 (#308)

• 🟨 Pull using force: RIP, TEAR, WRENCH, YANK
• 🟩 Bit of repetitive training: DRILL, EXERCISE, PRACTICE, ROUTINE
• 🟦 U.S.-based airlines: AMERICAN, FRONTIER, SPIRIT, UNITED
• 🟪 Beginning with day abbreviations: FRIAR, MONKEY, SUNDRY, WEDDING

April 13 (#307)

• 🟨 Seen at the circus: CLOWN, RING, TENT, TRAPEZE
• 🟩 The Wizard of Oz figures: LION, SCARECROW, WITCH, WIZARD
• 🟦 Film departments: HAIR, MAKEUP, PROPS, WARDROBE
• 🟪 “I’m a ___” (lyrics in The Joker): JOKER, LOVER, SINNER, SMOKER

April 12 (#306)

• 🟨 Orderly: CLEAN, NEAT, TIDY, TRIM
• 🟩 Augmentative prefixes: HYPER, SUPER, UBER, ULTRA
• 🟦 Become larger: BALLOON, MUSHROOM, SNOWBALL, SWELL
• 🟪 Items in classic kids’ games: DOMINO, JACK, MARBLE, STICK

April 11 (#305)

• 🟨 Haircuts, with “cut”: BOWL, BUZZ, CREW, PIXIE
• 🟩 Measuring instruments: COMPASS, RULER, SCALE, WATCH
• 🟦 Water and gas conduits: CHANNEL, LINE, MAIN, PIPE
• 🟪 Fast food mascots: CLOWN, COLONEL, KING, MERMAID

April 10 (#304)

• 🟨 Person in charge: CHAIR, CHIEF, DIRECTOR, HEAD
• 🟩 Grassy area: FIELD, GREEN, GROUNDS, LAWN
• 🟦 Words before “nut”: CHEST, COCO, HAZEL, PEA
• 🟪 Second words in Tarantino movies: BROWN, DOGS, FICTION, UNCHAINED

April 9 (#303)

• 🟨 Breadth: EXTENT, RANGE, REACH, SCOPE
• 🟩 Hair tools: BRUSH, COMB, DRYER, IRON
• 🟦 Heraldry terms: ARMS, COAT, CREST, SHIELD
• 🟪 Words before “drum”: EAR, KETTLE, OIL, STEEL

April 8 (#302)

• 🟨 Brief moment: FLASH, HEARTBEAT, JIFF, WINK
• 🟩 Dispute: CLASH, SCRAP, TANGLE, TIFF
• 🟦 Slang for zero: JACK, LOVE, SQUAT, ZIP
• 🟪 Accessories for Mr. Peanut: CANE, MONOCLE, SPAT, TOP HAT

April 7 (#301)

• 🟨 Disorderly place: DUMP, MESS, PIGPEN, STY
• 🟩 Sturdy: FIRM, SOLID, SOUND, STABLE
• 🟦 Found in Cracker Jacks: CARAMEL, PEANUTS, POPCORN, PRIZE
• 🟪 ___horse: CHARLEY, CRAZY, DARK, GIFT

April 6 (#300)

• 🟨 Intrinsic motivators: DESIRE, DRIVE, RESOLVE, WILL
• 🟩 Summer gear: HAT, SHORTS, SUNGLASSES, TEE
• 🟦 Collection: ARRAY, BATTERY, SERIES, SET
• 🟪 Horse___: FLY, POWER, RADISH, SHOE

April 5 (#299)

• 🟨 Pieces of furniture: BED, CHAIR, COUCH, TABLE
• 🟩 Carry, as a feeling: BEAR, HARBOR, HOLD, MAINTAIN
• 🟦 Wine tasting descriptions: BALANCED, DRY, FULL, SWEET
• 🟪 Starting with metals: GOLDILOCKS, IRONIC, LEADERSHIP, TINDER

April 4 (#298)

• 🟨 Ways to prepare eggs: BOIL, FRY, POACH, SCRAMBLE
• 🟩 Exhilaration: BUZZ, KICK, RUSH, THRILL
• 🟦 Thrown in target games: AXE, DART, HORSESHOE, RING
• 🟪 ___ wrap: BODY, BUBBLE, GIFT, SHRINK

April 3 (#297)

• 🟨 Model for reference: BENCHMARK, GAUGE, STANDARD, YARDSTICK
• 🟩 Poker actions: BET, CALL, CHECK, FOLD
• 🟦 Skin types: COMBINATION, DRY, NORMAL, OILY
• 🟪 Starts of U.S. states: KENT, MARY, MASS, WASH

April 2 (#296)

• 🟨 Thrust: JAB, POKE, PROD, STICK
• 🟩 Kinds of snakes: ADDER, BOA, MAMBA, MOCCASIN
• 🟦 Seen in Cinderella: BALL, PRINCE, PUMPKIN, SLIPPER
• 🟪 Pasta shapes: BOWTIE, ELBOW, TUBE, WHEEL

April 1st (#295)

• 🟨 Food slang for money: 🍞 (BREAD), 🥓 (BACON), 🥬 (GREENS), 🧀 (CHEESE)
• 🟩 Words that rhyme: ✈️ (PLANE), 🌧️ (RAIN), 🚂 (TRAIN), 🧠 (BRAIN)
• 🟦 Horror movies: 👽 (ALIEN), 😱 (SCREAM), 🧛 (VAMPIRE), 🪚 (SAW)
• 🟪 Letter homophones: 🐑 (EWE), 🐝 (BEE), 👁️ (EYE), 🫖 (TEA)

March 31 (#294)

• 🟨 Take a tumble: FALL, SLIP, SPILL, TRIP
• 🟩 Kinds of water: MINERAL, SPRING, STILL, TAP
• 🟦 Things that are cinched in the middle: CORSET, DIABOLO, HOURGLASS, WASP
• 🟪 ___ bear: BOO-BOO, BROWN, HONEY, TEDDY

March 30 (#293)

• 🟨 Breathes heavily: GASPS, HUFFS, PANTS, PUFFS
• 🟩 Preserves, as meat: CANS, CURES, SALTS, SMOKES
• 🟦 Predicaments: BINDS, JAMS, PICKLES, SPOTS
• 🟪 Things in “My Favorite Things”: KETTLES, MITTENS, RAINDROPS, WHISKERS

March 29 (#292)

• 🟨 Especially: MIGHT, PRETTY, REALLY, VERY
• 🟩 Disney characters: DAISY, GOOFY, HAPPY, LADY
• 🟦 Kinds of blue: BABY, NAVY, SKY, TIFFANY
• 🟪 Body parts plus “Y”: ARMY, COLONY, LIVERY, SHINY

March 28 (#291)

• 🟨 Exited: DEPARTED, LEFT, SPLIT, WENT
• 🟩 One flying an airplane: ACE, AVIATOR, FLIER, PILOT
• 🟦 Kinds of whales: BLUE, FIN, GRAY, RIGHT
• 🟪 Things with slots: ATM, CASINO, SCHEDULE, SPATULA

March 27 (#290)

• 🟨 Update for accuracy: AMEND, CORRECT, FIX, REVISE
• 🟩 Quarrel: FIGHT, ROW, SCRAP, TIFF
• 🟦 Games of chance: BINGO, LOTTERY, ROULETTE, WAR
• 🟪 ___ chip: BLUE, COMPUTER, POKER, POTATO

March 26 (#289)

• 🟨 Musical instruments: BASS, BASSOON, HARP, RECORDER
• 🟩 Plant growths: BLOOM, BUD, SHOOT, SPROUT
• 🟦 Bring up: FOSTER, NURSE, RAISE, REAR
• 🟪 Solar emanations: CORONA, FLARE, LIGHT, RADIATION

March 25 (#288)

• 🟨 How fast something is going: CLIP, PACE, RATE, SPEED
• 🟩 “Step on it!”: FASTER, GO, HURRY, MOVE
• 🟦 N.B.A. team player: CLIPPER, PACER, ROCKET, SPUR
• 🟪 Tele___: COMMUTE, MEDICINE, PROMPTER, VISION

March 24 (#287)

• 🟨 Yellow-brown shades: BEIGE, CAMEL, KHAKI, TAN
• 🟩 Fail to attend: CUT, DITCH, MISS, SKIP
• 🟦 Decisive victory: BLOWOUT, ROMP, ROUT, SWEEP
• 🟪 ___ wheel: CHEESE, COLOR, HAMSTER, PRAYER

March 23 (#286)

• 🟨 Kudos: CREDIT, GLORY, PRAISE, PROPS
• 🟩 Become aware of: DISCOVER, FIND, LEARN, REALIZE
• 🟦 Pursue: CHASE, SHADOW, TAIL, TRACK
• 🟪 Seen in a passport: NAME, PHOTO, STAMP, VISA

March 22 (#285)

• 🟨 Jumping animals: CRICKET, FROG, HARE, KANGAROO
• 🟩 Apply pressure to: CRUSH, MASH, PRESS, SQUASH
• 🟦 Olympic sports: BREAKING, HOCKEY, SKELETON, TRAMPOLINE
• 🟪 Things you can set: MOOD, RECORD, TABLE, VOLLEYBALL

March 21 (#284)

• 🟨 Chat, informally: GAB, JAW, YAK, YAP
• 🟩 Female animals: COW, DOE, EWE, HEN
• 🟦 Palindromes: BIB, EYE, GAG, POP
• 🟪 Starts of planet names: EAR, MAR, MER, SAT

March 20 (#283)

• 🟨 Seen at a sports stadium: ASTROTRUF, JUMBOTRON, SCOREBOARD, SYKBOX
• 🟩 Camera brands: FUJIFILM, HASSELBLAD, OLYMPUS, POLAROID
• 🟦 Italian demonyms: BOLOGNESE, NEAPOLITAN, PARMESAN, VENETIAN
• 🟪 Starting with rock bands: CREAMSICLE, JOURNEYMAN, KISSCAM, RUSHMORE