NYT Connections hints and answers for today (May 27, 2025)

NYT Connections is back with another brain-teasing word puzzle for May 27, and today’s grid blends fun themes with a few tricky categories that may throw even seasoned solvers off track. Whether you’re protecting a hard-earned streak or just popping in for a mental warm-up, this guide will give you a nudge in the right direction. We’ve rounded up the hints, solutions, and explanations to help you unravel today’s puzzle. If you want a little help without giving everything away, start with the clues — but the full answers and reasoning are here if you need them.NYT Connections is a daily word association game published by The New York Times. The goal is to group 16 seemingly unrelated words into four sets of four, with each group linked by a common theme. These themes range from obvious categories to clever wordplay, pop culture references or semantic links. The challenge lies in spotting the connections without falling for red herrings that might fit more than one group.You’re presented with a 4x4 grid of 16 words. Your task is to sort them into four distinct groups based on shared characteristics. Each group has exactly four correct words, and there’s only one correct solution. Once you think you’ve found a set, you select those four words and click "Submit." Be careful — you only get four chances. If you’re close, the game may tell you you’re one word off. The groups are colour-coded by difficulty: yellow (easy), green and blue (moderate), and purple (difficult or involving wordplay).Need a nudge before diving into the full answers? Here are today’s hints:Yellow group — like a discus or plateGreen group — waited for flight? Think What did you see around?Blue group — techniques for guitar stringsPurple group — characters of a tale old as time...If you're stuck and want the solution, here it is:Yellow group — round flat things: COASTER, FRISBEE, PANCAKE, RECORDGreen group — airport features: CAROUSEL, FOOD COURT, GATE, LOUNGEBlue group — guitar playing techniques: BEND, PICK, SLIDE, STRUMPurple group — what characters were transformed into in The Beauty and the Beast: BEAST, CANDELABRA, CLOCK, TEACUPYellow group — round flat things These items all share a flat, circular shape. COASTER and PANCAKE are obvious fits, while FRISBEE and RECORD extend the theme to toys and music.Green group — airport features All four words are tied to common airport locations or amenities. A CAROUSEL refers to baggage claim, FOOD COURT is for dining, a GATE is the departure area, and a LOUNGE offers comfort to select travellers.Blue group — guitar playing techniques This set features methods used to play a guitar. PICK and STRUM involve finger or tool use, while BEND and SLIDE refer to how notes are altered on the fretboard.Purple group — The Beauty and the Beast transformations This clever category references characters turned into objects in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: BEAST (the prince), CANDELABRA (Lumière), CLOCK (Cogsworth), and TEACUP (Chip).Ready for tomorrow’s puzzle? Come back for more hints, answers, and wordplay to keep your streak alive!