If you’re here, that probably means today’s NYT Connections puzzle has tested your logic, your memory… or maybe just your tolerance for obscure penguin names. Let’s break it all down: the hints, the categories, and yes — the answers. But don’t worry, I’ll ease you in slowly before giving away the whole grid.
For those new to the game, Connections is a daily puzzle from The New York Times that gives you 16 seemingly unrelated words and asks you to sort them into four groups of four that share a common connection. These groups range from extremely obvious to incredibly tricky, and the color-coded tiers — Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest) — reflect just how likely they are to stump even seasoned puzzlers.
How To Play NYT Connections
You can play Connections for free daily on the NYT Games site. You’re allowed up to four mistakes, and after that, you’re out. You can always restart by clearing cookies — or you can come here for guidance (no judgment).
Let’s look at today’s puzzle
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Today’s Words:
- MACARONI
- ANIMAL
- KING
- RULER
- SCOOTER
- PLANT
- EMPEROR
- BEAKER
- BACTERIA
- COMMERCE
- SYRINGE
- FUNGUS
- SIGNATURE
- CHINSTRAP
- PROTRACTOR
Today’s NYT Connections Hints for May 17, 2025
If you’re just looking for a nudge before full-on spoilers, here’s your clue list by category:
- Yellow Group – The circle of life
- Green Group – Study hard
- Blue Group – Prepared to be chilly
- Purple Group – An extraneous letter
Let’s break down what that might mean
Deeper Hints (Mild Spoilers)
- Yellow looks biological. Think scientific classifications.
- Green feels like high school math class or a chemistry lab.
- Blue might make you think of a nature documentary. Or March of the Penguins.
- Purple? Well, it’s the wild card — think tech and the internet.
Today’s Connections Answers for May 17, 2025
Yellow Group – Member of a Kingdom in Taxonomy
- ANIMAL, BACTERIA, FUNGUS, PLANT
This is your biology refresher. These are four of the major kingdoms in scientific taxonomy. Yes, FUNGUS and PLANT are often confused — but they are definitely separate categories (just ask any mycologist… or The Last of Us fans).
Green Group – Graduated Instruments
- BEAKER, RULER, PROTRACTOR, SYRINGE
What do these have in common? They’re all measuring tools, often used in classrooms or labs. SYRINGE may throw you, but yes — it’s graduated too (in mL). This one clicked once you thought back to science class.
Blue Group – Kinds of Penguins
- EMPEROR, KING, CHINSTRAP, MACARONI
Maybe you recognized the royal penguins (EMPEROR, KING), but MACARONI and CHINSTRAP? That’s where the puzzle got spicy. A solid “aha” moment if you remembered that yes, penguins can be both silly and regal.
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Purple Group – “E” Things
- COMMERCE, MAIL, SCOOTER, SIGNATURE
The theme here: Add an “E” in front. E-COMMERCE, EMAIL, E-SCOOTER, E-SIGNATURE. This one can be frustrating because some feel more mainstream (email, e-commerce), while others (e-scooter? really?) feel a little forced. Still, it’s a clever twist
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Final Thoughts
Today’s puzzle was well-balanced: Yellow and Green were grounded in science and academia. Blue required a bit of zoological memory. Purple? That was a digital-age curveball. These “E” things categories can be divisive — do we really say e-signature anymore? But hey, that’s Connections. Sometimes you’re riding high on a streak, and other times you’re just Googling “Macaroni Penguin” in disbelief.
