After 699 other puzzles, the 700th puzzle for Connections today creates some new tricks through the inclusion of words with similar definitions to throw you off. Although I found some categories today to be much easier to spot, some are too easily connected through flimsy definitions. By using some clues and thinking about multiple contexts for every available phrase, the right answers won't be too difficult to discover.

Visualization was a great help for today's puzzle, similar to how NYT Vertex puzzles require you to see the bigger picture in your head to find the right solution. You only have four chances to make a mistake, so take your time to find all the ways phrases in the puzzle could be used. I've found that ing how I've used specific words in the past is a great strategy.

Today's Connections Category Hints

May 11 #700

If I had to describe the theme for today's puzzle, it would be - features of actions you take. Whether as a reference to something you're playing or referring to a literal sentence you would say or do, the phrases for today are best thought of as dynamic. How you would speak or perform the actions associated with different phrases usually leads to some strong pairings, but don't get too caught onto the first ones you see.

For those struggling to find the categories for today's puzzle, follow these clues to get a good head start:

• One category is about things related to used to bring happiness to others.
• One category is about things related to actions you take when you're avoiding something.
• One category is about things related to you would find in video games.
• One category is about things related to you would put after another word used to describe "mom."

If you want to go all out with some of your clue-searching, you should look at the category names to get some extra help. There are also spoilers for each category if you find yourself needing to solve a single category to finish up.

Today's Connections Answers

May 11 #700

Yellow Answers: Revealed & Explained

This part of today's puzzle was slightly tricky for me, as I assumed MAY I and PLEASE were two that fit together from politely asking for something. However, after realizing no other phrases fit that context, I saw that DELIGHT could also go with PLEASE to refer to making someone happy. To have something SUIT someone or TICKLE their fancy would make them happy, giving me the right words needed for the correct answer.

Green Answers: Revealed & Explained

Although DUCK and GOOSE may seem to pair perfectly as two types of birds, there are no other that form the same connection. To contrast, DODGE and SHAKE both refer to managing to avoid something, with SKIRT being an action that closely resembles the same meaning. When I realized that DUCK could mean to DODGE something or SHAKE it off of me, I came to the right conclusion.

Blue Answers: Revealed & Explained

Due to my job, it was very easy to figure out this portion of the puzzle, as video game are very singular in how they're used. When playing some video games, you LEVEL up your character to raise their HEALTH in order to challenge a BOSS. Sometimes, you'll even earn a POWER-UP or two to give yourself the advantage you need to take a BOSS down.

Purple Answers: Revealed & Explained

The way I figured out this section of the puzzle was recognizing that MAY I was two separate words, and did not refer to some holiday on May 1. It took some time for me to see how that term was used after another phrase, but seeing as only three words were left, I just shuffled them together to get the right answer. Afterward, I saw how Mother EARTH, Mother GOOSE, and Mother SUPERIOR all used the first part of their phrase to give new meaning to their context.

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