NYT Connections hints and answers for today (18 May 2025)

The New York Times’ viral word game, NYT Connections , is back again to test how quickly your brain can spot patterns, links, and subtle thematic threads. For puzzle lovers and word game fanatics, it’s become a daily ritual, offering a mental workout that’s both challenging and satisfying. And whether you’re sipping your Sunday coffee or killing time between errands, today’s Connections puzzle (May 18, 2025) brings another set of 16 tricky words begging to be grouped. As always, the challenge lies in sorting them into four groups of four that share a hidden connection—but be warned, today’s puzzle has one especially frustrating category. Read on for hints, the categories, and finally, the answers.


What is NYT Connections
Connections is one of The New York Times’ most popular word games, ranking just behind the daily crossword. The game presents players with 16 seemingly unrelated words, challenging them to group them into four sets of four based on hidden connections. The categories can be straightforward, like sports or school-related terms, or they can be more abstract or pun-based.


How to play NYT Connections
To solve the puzzle, players must:

• Select four words they believe belong in the same category.
• If correct, those words are grouped and removed from the board.
• If incorrect, they can try again—but only four mistakes are allowed before the game ends.

The difficulty level of each group is colour-coded:

Yellow – Easy
Green – Moderate
Blue – Challenging
Purple – Most difficult

A helpful feature lets players know when they’re “one away” from a correct group, giving them a chance to adjust before losing a try.


Hints for today’s Connections (May 18)
Want a nudge without spoiling the answers just yet? Here are the clues for each group:

Yellow: words related to homework or training, either in academics or sports

Blue: words for a near guess

Green: phrases suggesting openness or readiness

Purple: different uses of A, from academics to athletics to academics

Bonus hint: Many players found the purple group especially frustrating today. Some words seem only loosely connected to the theme.


Today’s Connections answer
Here’s the full breakdown of today’s solution, in case you're ready to see it:

• Tasks for a student: assignment, drill, exercise, lesson

• Encouraging responses in a guessing game: almost, close, not quite, warm

• Up for anything: easy, flexible, game, open

• What “A” might mean: area, athletic, excellent, one


Today’s groups explained
Yellow group – tasks for a student

This one came together easily for most players. These words are commonly associated with schoolwork or training sessions.

Blue group – encouraging responses

These are the phrases you'd typically hear when someone is on the right track in a guessing game, especially “getting warm” or “you’re close.”

Green group – up for anything

Words like “flexible” and “open” clearly convey a willingness to participate or adapt. “Game” is often used to show eagerness, as in “I’m game!”

Purple group – what “A” might mean

This was the most debated category. While “excellent” and “one” can be seen as top grades or rankings, “area” and “athletic” feel more like words that simply start with “A,” making this group feel a bit forced.


That wraps up today’s NYT Connections breakdown. Whether you aced it or got tripped up by purple, there’s always another round tomorrow to test your word-wrangling skills. Check back daily for fresh hints, and don’t forget—you’re only ever four connections away from a win.