Connections Hints

Friday, May 30, 2025

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — May 30, 2025

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

BAT
CADDY
CLUB
FOIL
HAT
LOVE
RADIO
RIBBON
SHAKE
STAFF
STICK
TAPE
TEE
TOILET PAPER
TOTE
WATER BOTTLE
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

RODSStraightforward
THEY'RE ON A ROLL!Moderate
COMMON SWAG ITEMSTricky
WORDS BEFORE “SHACK”Devious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

RODSStraightforward
LONG, THIN OBJECTS USED FOR HITTING OR SUPPORTING+ 3 more…
THEY'RE ON A ROLL!Moderate
THESE ALL COME WOUND AROUND A CORE+ 3 more…
COMMON SWAG ITEMSTricky
FREEBIES YOU MIGHT GRAB AT A CONFERENCE OR EVENT+ 3 more…
WORDS BEFORE “SHACK”Devious
EACH OF THESE PAIRS WITH 'SHACK' TO MAKE A COMPOUND WORD OR PHRASE+ 3 more…
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Full solution
RODSStraightforward
BAT,CLUB,STAFF,STICK

BAT, CLUB, STAFF, and STICK are all words meaning a rod-shaped object.

THEY'RE ON A ROLL!Moderate
FOIL,TAPE,RIBBON,TOILET PAPER

FOIL, TAPE, RIBBON, and TOILET PAPER all come in roll form.

COMMON SWAG ITEMSTricky
HAT,TEE,TOTE,WATER BOTTLE

HAT, TEE, TOTE, and WATER BOTTLE are classic promotional giveaway items.

WORDS BEFORE “SHACK”Devious
CADDY,LOVE,RADIO,SHAKE

CADDY, LOVE, RADIO, and SHAKE all precede 'SHACK' to form compound words: Caddyshack, Love Shack, Radio Shack, Shake Shack.

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