Connections Hints Today — May 30, 2026
Welcome to your daily Connections companion. Use progressive hints to reveal only what you need and protect your solve.
Today's Words
Here are today's 16 words. They need to be sorted into four groups of four, where each group shares a hidden connection. The words below are shuffled — use the shuffle button to rearrange them.
CLEAR
GIGI
SOUND
SORRY
FEVER
PIPE
RIGHT
NEVER
TILDE
NO WAY
LUCID
CARET
IMPOSSIBLE
WITCHCRAFT
VOLARE
BRACE
Connections Hints Today
Start with subtle directional hints, then reveal stronger clues only if needed. Each level provides one hint per color group.
Level 1: Direction Hints
Each hint below gives an abstract sense of direction for one group. No category names or specific words are revealed.
A common setting ties these entries.
Compare meanings before locking a quartet.
Test broad associations before wordplay.
Start from context, then verify fit.
Level 2: Theme Hints
These hints are slightly more specific, describing the theme or type of connection. Category names are still hidden.
One practical context brings them together.
The quartet belongs to a defined lane.
Elimination should clarify the intended fit.
Think of a recognized class of examples.
Level 3: Category Names
Now we reveal the actual category names. Can you figure out which words belong to each?
Level 4: Anchor Words
One anchor word per group is revealed below. This word most clearly belongs to its category.
Level 5: Full Solution
The complete solution is revealed below with all four groups and their words.
Trap Warnings
Watch out for these potential false groupings. The puzzle is designed with red herrings that can lead you astray.
At least one word likely fits multiple plausible groups. Confirm all four before submitting.
Today's Categories
If you already know which words go together but need confirmation on the category names, reveal them below.
Today's Connections Answers
If the hints were not enough, you can reveal the complete answer below. This shows all four groups with their category names and words. Only reveal this if you are sure you want the full solution.
How Hard Is Today's Connections
Today's puzzle sits in the middle: some groups are clear, while others are intentionally tricky.
Standard difficulty.
How We Solved It
Use these concise solve notes to understand how to break down the puzzle and improve pattern recognition.
- Start with the cleanest four-word set to reduce ambiguity.
- When two words look interchangeable, test both in different tentative groups.
- Use process of elimination once one group is solved.
- If a set feels forced, swap one word and re-evaluate the whole board.
Yesterday's Connections
Yesterday's puzzle is available below behind a reveal button for quick review.
Puzzle #1164 — 2026-05-29
OCEANS
SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS
Connections Archive: Past Connections Answers
Review the last 10 days and reveal each answer in place.
May 29 · Fri
#1164Reveal
May 29 · Fri
May 28 · Thu
#1166Reveal
May 28 · Thu
May 27 · Wed
#1159Reveal
May 27 · Wed
May 26 · Tue
#1155Reveal
May 26 · Tue
May 25 · Mon
#1163Reveal
May 25 · Mon
May 24 · Sun
#1161Reveal
May 24 · Sun
May 23 · Sat
#1160Reveal
May 23 · Sat
May 22 · Fri
#1153Reveal
May 22 · Fri
May 21 · Thu
#1158Reveal
May 21 · Thu
May 20 · Wed
#1157Reveal
May 20 · Wed
| Date | Day | Puzzle | Reveal In Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29 | Fri | #1164 | Reveal answersyellow OCEANSATLANTIC PACIFIC INDIAN ARCTIC green SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLSBO AMMONIA WET DOG DURIAN blue KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSIONPOWDER READING BILLIARD DRAWING purple WHAT "PA" MIGHT REFER TOFATHER PENNSYLVANIA PROTACTINIUM PUBLIC ADDRESS |
| May 28 | Thu | #1166 | Reveal answersyellow GET LOWHUNCH STOOP SQUAT DUCK green FOURTH ESTATEPRESS MEDIA NEWS PAPERS blue PARTS OF A COURTROOMBAR BENCH STAND PODIUM purple SKI ___JUMP LODGE LIFT SLOPE |
| May 27 | Wed | #1159 | Reveal answersyellow SMALL COMMUNITYHAMLET COMMUNE TOWNSHIP VILLAGE green CLASSIC BOARD GAMESOTHELLO OPERATION TROUBLE BATTLESHIP blue HOMOPHONES OF WAYS OF LOOKINGAYE PIER LEAR STAIR purple ENDING IN THE "LITTLE WOMEN" MARCH SISTERSBANJO NUTMEG MACBETH MONOGAMY |
| May 26 | Tue | #1155 | Reveal answersyellow CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDSRING CUP PENNANT MEDAL green MATTER AT HANDFOCUS POINT SUBJECT CONCERN blue '80S COMEDIESBIG AIRPLANE CLUE TWINS purple ANAGRAMSTINSEL SILENT LISTEN ENLIST |
| May 25 | Mon | #1163 | Reveal answersyellow COMMON PROMO ITEMSCAP PIN SHIRT STICKER green TINY BITWHIT JOT SCRAP SHRED blue TEXTING ABBREVIATIONSCYA ATM LOL TIA purple EYE___BROW LID LASH BALL |
| May 24 | Sun | #1161 | Reveal answersyellow FARM FIXTURESPEN SHED STABLE COOP green LABOR PROTEST ACTIONSSTRIKE MARCH RALLY PICKET blue OBJECTS USED IN RITUAL PERFORMANCESRATTLE STAFF MASK DRUM purple POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES PLUS A LETTERHISS HERB ITSY MYA |
| May 23 | Sat | #1160 | Reveal answersyellow HAIRDOSBEEHIVE POMPADOUR CHIGNON BOUFFANT green MORE READILYFIRST SOONER RATHER PREFERABLY blue MARVEL CHARACTERSHAWKEYE WOLVERINE DAREDEVIL NIGHTCRAWLER purple WORDS AFTER "THE" IN "STAR WARS" MOVIE TITLESEMPIRE LAST FORCE PHANTOM |
| May 22 | Fri | #1153 | Reveal answersyellow REACH BACK OUTCHECK IN FOLLOW UP TOUCH BASE RECONNECT green THE WAY THINGS ARE DONECONVENTION CUSTOM SOCIAL NORM UNWRITTEN RULE blue PLACES WITH CONVEYOR BELTSBAGGAGE CLAIM CHECKOUT LANE ASSEMBLY LINE REVOLVING SUSHI BAR purple STARTING WITH NAME HOMOPHONESLOOSEY-GOOSEY CARRY-ON EL NIÑO TAILOR-MADE |
| May 21 | Thu | #1158 | Reveal answersyellow KINDS OF PIESCHESS PUMPKIN PECAN SHOOFLY green THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH BUTTSMOON PEACH CAN CABOOSE blue TENNIS SCORING TERMSLOVE ADVANTAGE DEUCE FORTY purple ___ MUSTARDHONEY HOT YELLOW COLONEL |
| May 20 | Wed | #1157 | Reveal answersyellow STOVE KNOB SETTINGSHIGH MEDIUM OFF SIMMER green POTENCYINTENSITY MIGHT FORCE CONCENTRATION blue MUSIC THEORY CONCEPTSKEY MODE INTERVAL SCALE purple "___ DAY" MOVIESINDEPENDENCE TRAINING GROUNDHOG THE LONGEST |
How to Play Connections
New to NYT Connections? Here's everything you need to know to get started. The game is simple to understand but can be surprisingly challenging to master.
Connections Rules
Study the 16 words
When you open the puzzle, you will see 16 words arranged in a 4x4 grid. Take a moment to read through all of them before making any guesses. Look for obvious connections, shared themes, or patterns that might link four words together.
Select four words
Tap or click on four words that you believe share a common connection. The connection could be a shared category (like types of fruit), a wordplay pattern (like words that follow a common prefix), or a cultural reference (like characters from a TV show).
Submit your guess
Once you have selected four words, hit the Submit button. If all four words belong to the same group, the group is revealed with its category name and color. If your guess is wrong, you lose one of your four allowed mistakes.
Use the color feedback
When a group is correctly identified, it is revealed with a color: yellow (easiest), green (medium), blue (tricky), or purple (hardest). This difficulty ordering can help you calibrate your remaining guesses. If you are stuck, focus on finding the most obvious remaining group.
Watch out for traps
The puzzle is designed with intentional red herrings. Some words will appear to fit in multiple categories. For example, a word like BASS could relate to music or fishing. Look for the most specific connection that links exactly four words, and be wary of groups that seem too easy.
Solve all four groups
The puzzle is complete when all four groups are correctly identified, or when you have used all four of your allowed mistakes. After completion, you can share your results as a spoiler-free colored grid showing which groups you found and how many mistakes you made.
What the Colors Mean
Yellow
The easiest group. The connection is usually the most straightforward and recognizable. Start here if you are looking for a confidence-building first solve.
Green
A moderately easy group. The connection is clear once you see it, but it may require a moment of thought. Often involves common categories or well-known groupings.
Blue
A tricky group. The connection may be less obvious or require knowledge of a specific topic. Words in this group often overlap with other potential categories.
Purple
The hardest group. Often involves wordplay, hidden patterns, or very abstract connections. This is frequently the last group solved and the one most likely to trip up experienced players.
Frequently Asked Questions About Connections
NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle published by The New York Times. Players are presented with 16 words and must sort them into four groups of four, where each group shares a hidden connection. The groups are color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest). You get four mistakes before the game ends.
You are given 16 words on a 4x4 grid. Your goal is to find four groups of four words that share something in common. Select four words you think belong together and submit your guess. If correct, the group is revealed with its category name. If wrong, you lose one of your four allowed mistakes. The puzzle is solved when all four groups are found.
A new Connections puzzle is published every day at midnight Eastern Time. Every player worldwide receives the same puzzle on the same day, which makes it easy to discuss results and compare strategies without worrying about different puzzles.
The four colors represent difficulty levels. Yellow is the easiest group with the most straightforward connection. Green is slightly harder. Blue is tricky. Purple is the hardest group, often involving wordplay, puns, or very abstract connections. Starting with yellow and working up is a common strategy.
You are allowed four mistakes in each Connections puzzle. After your fourth incorrect guess, the game ends and the remaining groups are revealed. There is no penalty for taking your time, so it pays to think carefully before submitting each guess.
Yes, Connections is free to play on The New York Times website and app. While the NYT offers a Games subscription for additional features and games, Connections itself can be played without a subscription or account.
The official NYT site only offers the current day's puzzle. Once a new puzzle is published at midnight, the previous day's puzzle is no longer available on the official site. However, third-party archive sites exist that allow you to practice with older puzzles.
Start by scanning all 16 words for obvious groupings. Look for the yellow (easiest) group first. Be cautious of words that seem to fit in multiple categories, as these are often traps. If you are stuck, try thinking about less obvious connections like wordplay, prefixes, suffixes, or pop culture references. The purple group often involves the trickiest connection.
Connections is edited by Wyna Liu at The New York Times. The puzzles are crafted by a team of puzzle constructors. Wyna Liu took over as editor after the game was created, and the puzzle has grown to become one of the most popular daily word games alongside Wordle.
Hints give you clues about the groups without revealing the full solution. They might describe the theme of a group, name one word from a group, or identify the category name. Answers show the complete solution with all four groups fully revealed. Our site offers progressive hints so you can choose how much help you want.