May 16, 2025 Connections Puzzle #705: Hints & Solutions

Today’s Connections puzzle features an interesting twist that complicates how categories are defined, making the correct answers harder to uncover than you might think. The blend of natural and modern terms introduces a challenge that took me a while to grasp. Even without relying on rigid ideas surrounding broader themes, it’s surprising how closely some words in this puzzle appear to align without leading to a clear answer.

Solve today’s puzzle within four chances; miss more than that, and it’s game over. That’s one fewer attempt than the daily NYT Wordle puzzle, so take your time to consider how the words relate to each other. Visualize the look of the terms, their structural similarities, or explore definitions of phrases to give yourself a solid foundation for identifying the groups.

Hints for Today’s Connections Categories

May 16 #705

To decode today’s puzzle, I took a methodical approach and focused on the terms that stood out the most. Some of the phrases are uniquely distinct, enabling you to grasp one or two categories fairly quickly. Clearing out some of the simpler word groups first gives you a better opportunity to pinpoint the more challenging connections in the puzzle.

If you’re having a tough time with the categories today, here are some helpful hints:

One category pertains to elements found in a forest ecosystem.
Another category focuses on terms associated with endings.
A third category includes terms connected to an animal that reacts to the color red.
The last category features terms that include a significant construction material in their names.

For an effective strategy, pay attention to the category names, as they can provide valuable guidance. There are also spoilers available if you need help with a specific category to wrap things up.

KINDS OF PLANTS
HERB	SHRUB	TREE	VINE

This was the easiest part of the puzzle for me, as terms like HERB and VINE stood out distinctly from others. I quickly recognized that TREE, SHRUB, and HERB all represent plants commonly found in forested areas. Additionally, trees often have one or more VINES attached to them, making that word a perfect fit for this category.

Green Answers: Revealed & Explained

DISCONTINUE
DISSOLVE	END	SCRAP	SUNSET

When you END a project or decide to SCRAP it, you often must DISSOLVE the team involved. This is a familiar scenario for me in work environments, so the connections between those terms came easily. It took me a moment to understand that the SUNSET period also signifies the conclusion of a project, making it the best match for this category.

Blue Answers: Revealed & Explained

ASSOCIATED WITH BULLS
MICHAEL JORDAN	RODEO	TAURUS	WALL STREET

This category was challenging for me as I initially mistook MICHAEL JORDAN for the actor Michael B. Jordan, which would group him with HOLLYWOOD and KUBRICK. However, I realized that RODEO pertains to bull riding, while TAURUS represents an astrological sign symbolized by a bull. Given that Michael Jordan is a legendary player for the Chicago Bulls, WALL STREET emerged as the final correct answer to complete this set.

Purple Answers: Revealed & Explained

ENDING WITH BUILDING MATERIALS
HOLLYWOOD	HOURGLASS	KUBRICK	NEUROPLASTIC

I quickly identified HOLLYWOOD and KUBRICK, recognizing Stanley Kubrick as a famous filmmaker from Hollywood. However, I had difficulty grouping the remaining words until I noticed how they were constructed. I realized that NEUROPLASTIC contains “plastic,” while “glass” is in HOURGLASS, “wood” is found in HOLLYWOOD, and “brick” is in KUBRICK, thus completing the theme.