Yellow
Puzzle #10394 groupsUpdated daily
Connections answers and hints today — April 16, 2026
Tap to reveal spoiler-free hints, category titles, and answers one at a time.
Puzzle
#1039
Groups
4
Words
16
Mistakes allowed
4
Sort the 16 words into 4 groups of 4. Start with what feels obvious — yellow is the easiest, purple is the trickiest. Use hints below if you get stuck.
How to use these Connections hints
- Start with the yellow group to build momentum. The themes are usually concrete categories such as months, first names, or parts of a set.
- Shuffle the remaining words mentally and look for wordplay. The blue and purple tiers often hide homophones, shared suffixes, or pop culture references.
- Only reveal what you need. Flash the hint if you want direction, then turn the title over when you are ready to confirm your guess.
- Log your streak. Consistency matters for the NYT leaderboard, and seeing how often each category trips you up will sharpen tomorrow's approach.
What do the Connections colors mean?
Each color in NYT Connections represents a difficulty level. Yellow is the easiest category with straightforward groupings. Green is slightly harder with less obvious connections. Blue requires lateral thinking and may involve wordplay. Purple is the hardest category, often featuring tricky wordplay, hidden patterns, or niche cultural references that deliberately mislead solvers.
| Color | Difficulty | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Easiest | Concrete categories like types of food, first names, or everyday objects |
| Green | Medium | Slightly abstract groupings that require recognizing shared traits |
| Blue | Hard | Lateral thinking required, may involve synonyms or double meanings |
| Purple | Hardest | Tricky wordplay, hidden prefixes/suffixes, or niche pop culture |
How many mistakes can you make in Connections?
You get exactly 4 mistakes in NYT Connections. Each incorrect guess costs one life, and the game ends when all four are used. The "one away" warning means three of your four selected words are correct but the fourth belongs in a different group. Start with the yellow (easiest) category to preserve your mistakes for the trickier purple group.
What time does Connections reset?
NYT Connections resets daily at midnight Eastern Time (ET). A brand-new 16-word grid goes live at 12:00 AM ET every day, seven days a week. Our hints are published shortly after the reset so you can get help from the moment the puzzle is available.
Looking for today's Connections answers? Every set of four words shares a hidden relationship. We present the same structure as the official puzzle in a spoiler-controlled layout so you can scan for clues without accidentally seeing the full solution. Tap the yellow hint first for the easiest group, or jump straight to the tricky purple quadrant.
These Connections hints update seven days a week. Once you finish, browse the Connections puzzle archive to revisit earlier puzzles, or try the Sports Connections hint for a sports-themed challenge. Practicing older grids sharpens your ability to spot synonyms, wordplay, and pop culture categories.
Want the original experience? Head over to play Connections #1039 on our mirror of the daily grid, then come back for the answer check. We also cover Wordle answer today, Strands hints, Letter Boxed answers, Spelling Bee hints, and Mini Crossword hints. For deeper strategy, check out our puzzle strategy guides.
Yesterday's Solution — April 15, 2026
GRADUATION GEARTEDIOUS UNDERTAKINGOVERSIMPLISTICSHAPES OF CHESS PIECES
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Definitions for the most unusual words in today's puzzle
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Green group — FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME
Why is “BODYSUIT” in the Green group?
a tight-fitting garment that covers the body
Green group — FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME
Why is “WHIP” in the Green group?
a long, thin, flexible piece of material used for punishing or driving animals
Word definitions
Tricky words in today's Connections (April 16, 2026)
Several words in today's puzzle have multiple meanings or obscure definitions that can throw you off. Here's what each one means in the context of this Connections grid.
- RIDE
- Definition: a journey on a vehicle or animal
- Why it's tricky: can also refer to a carnival attraction
- FAN
- Definition: a device for creating a current of air
- Why it's tricky: can also refer to an enthusiastic supporter
- MASK
- Definition: a covering for the face
- Why it's tricky: can also refer to a disguise or concealment
- TRAINING
- Definition: the act of teaching or learning the skills you need to do a particular job or activity
- Why it's tricky: can also refer to a specific type of underwear
NYT Connections #1039 · April 16, 2026
Daily recap and standout traps
The yellow opener, TEASE, set the pace early, while the purple collection "TRAINING ___" demanded the cleanest logic. Use this write-up to remember where you burned guesses, coach friends who are still stuck, and spot category patterns that have been resurfacing all week.
TEASE
Words: NEEDLE, RIB, RIDE, ROAST
Hint recap: words that can be used to annoy or provoke
THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
Words: AUTO, COOL, FAN, HEAT
Hint recap: options for controlling temperature
FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME
Words: BODYSUIT, CLAWS, MASK, WHIP
Hint recap: components of a superhero costume
TRAINING ___
Words: BRA, CAMP, DAY, WHEELS
Hint recap: words that complete a phrase related to learning or practice
Finish logging today's results, then keep your streak alive in the Connections archive or switch gears with the NYT Wordle guide. We refresh this recap each morning so there's always a dated write-up to revisit alongside your own notes.
Connections #1039 explained
Why these words connect (April 16, 2026)
Understanding the logic behind each group helps you spot similar patterns in future puzzles. Here's the reasoning for every category in today's Connections.
Yellow group: TEASE
These words are all related to teasing or provoking someone, whether through words or actions, like NEEDLE someone with constant questions or ROAST them with jokes.
Green group: THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
These words are all settings you might find on a thermostat, used to control the temperature and comfort of a room, like AUTO for automatic temperature control or COOL for cooling the air.
Blue group: FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME
These words are all features you might find in a Catwoman costume, like a BODYSUIT for a full-body covering or CLAWS for a fierce and intimidating look.
Purple group: TRAINING ___
These words are all related to training or practice, like TRAINING BRA for a type of underwear or TRAINING CAMP for a place to learn new skills.
Red herrings and trap words explained
These words were designed to mislead you. Understanding why they don't belong where you first think sharpens your game for tomorrow.
“NEEDLE”
Seems like it belongs to: TRAINING ___
Actually belongs to: TEASE
NEEDLE can be a verb meaning to tease or annoy, but it's also a noun that could fit with TRAINING, as in 'training needle' for sewing.
“CAMP”
Seems like it belongs to: FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME
Actually belongs to: TRAINING ___
CAMP can refer to a style or attitude, but in this context, it's more likely related to TRAINING CAMP.
“FAN”
Seems like it belongs to: TEASE
Actually belongs to: THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
FAN can be a noun or a verb, and while it could fit with TEASE as a verb, in this context, it's more likely related to THERMOSTAT SETTINGS.
Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained
These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.
Why “NEEDLE” didn't go with TRAINING ___
Seems like: TRAINING ___ → Actually: TEASE
NEEDLE can be a verb meaning to tease or annoy, but it's also a noun that could fit with TRAINING, as in 'training needle' for sewing.
Why “CAMP” didn't go with FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME
Seems like: FEATURES OF A CATWOMAN COSTUME → Actually: TRAINING ___
CAMP can refer to a style or attitude, but in this context, it's more likely related to TRAINING CAMP.
Why “FAN” didn't go with TEASE
Seems like: TEASE → Actually: THERMOSTAT SETTINGS
FAN can be a noun or a verb, and while it could fit with TEASE as a verb, in this context, it's more likely related to THERMOSTAT SETTINGS.
Connections hints and answers — your daily companion
Connections Hintz is written by word-game obsessives who track every official New York Times puzzle. We log the categories, note sneaky traps, and chart how difficulty shifts through the week so you know what to expect before you tap your first guess. If you are chasing a perfect streak or just want a quick nudge, our blend of spoiler-free hints and full answers keeps you in control.
Beyond the grid, we examine trends: which connections reappear, how holiday themes influence the word list, and the subtle ways the editors remix trivia, vocabulary, and pop culture. That added context improves your pattern recognition and gives you a head start on tomorrow's puzzle.
Daily coverage
Hints publish with the puzzle, including reset reminders and links to play today's Connections.
Strategy notes
Learn proven tactics for each difficulty tier, plus breakdowns of archived themes.
More NYT games
Jump to fresh guides for Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword, Letter Boxed, and the Sports Edition.
Sources & References
- NYT Connections — Official Connections puzzle page
- NYT Games FAQ — Official support and game rules from the New York Times
- NYT Games — Official New York Times puzzle hub
- NYT Games (Wikipedia) — History and overview of all NYT puzzle games
All NYT Games
Daily NYT Games Companion
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Connections answers and hints
Get clarity on gameplay rules, release times, strategy tips, and how our hints can help you maintain a perfect streak without spoiling the fun.
- Today's Connections answers are listed in the hint section above. We reveal all four groups (Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple) with their category titles and the four words in each group. Scroll up to the puzzle section and tap "Reveal" to see today's full answers.
- The Purple group is always the hardest in NYT Connections. It typically features multi-step wordplay, hidden patterns, or niche cultural references designed to mislead solvers. Check our hints above for a spoiler-free clue about today's Purple category before revealing the full answer.
- Each morning the New York Times releases a fresh 16-word grid. We publish Connections hints and solutions at the same time so you can compare your work, confirm the group titles, or get gentle nudges without spoiling the entire puzzle.
- We solve and upload the daily hints before sunrise Eastern Time. If the grid is especially tricky, check back mid-morning for strategic notes. You can always view older solutions in our Connections archive.
- Group the 16 words into four sets of four. Each set shares a hidden connection—sometimes a simple category like colors, other times a wordplay-based theme. Only one solution works, so swap words between groups until every slot locks in. You can practise in our Connections play area.
- The game warns "one away" when three of your chosen words belong together, but the fourth belongs in another category. Use that clue to swap in a different word from the pool that fits the theme you identified.
- You get four strikes total. Each incorrect guess costs one strike, and when they are gone the puzzle ends. Our graded hints let you avoid burning attempts while still piecing the categories together yourself.
- The purple tier is intentionally deceptive. Expect multi-step wordplay, overlapping meanings, or niche pop culture references. Scan for shared suffixes, alternate pronunciations, and punny interpretations to crack it.
- Absolutely. Browse our complete Connections archive to study earlier grids, review solution breakdowns, and practice solving without the daily time pressure.
- A new NYT Connections puzzle arrives every day at midnight Eastern Time. Refresh shortly after the reset to see the latest words and our updated hints.
- Track the categories that trip you up, memorise recurring constructions (such as shared prefixes), and play other NYT word games to stay sharp. We recommend warming up with the Mini Crossword or Spelling Bee before you tackle Connections.
- Yes. Alongside Connections we provide daily answers and hints for Wordle, Strands, Spelling Bee, Mini Crossword, Letter Boxed, and the Sports Connections.
- Each color represents a difficulty level. Yellow is the easiest with straightforward categories. Green is slightly harder. Blue requires lateral thinking and may involve wordplay. Purple is the hardest, featuring tricky wordplay, hidden prefixes or suffixes, and niche cultural references designed to mislead solvers.
- The Connections archive is our complete database of every NYT Connections puzzle since the game launched in June 2023. Browse any past puzzle to study categories, review tricky groupings, and practice solving without daily time pressure. Each archived entry includes hints, answers, and category breakdowns.
- Yes, NYT Connections is free to play on the New York Times website and app. You do not need a New York Times subscription to access the daily Connections puzzle. However, some other NYT games like the full Crossword require a Games subscription.
- Connections difficulty tends to increase as the week progresses. Monday and Tuesday puzzles are generally more straightforward with concrete categories. Wednesday through Friday puzzles introduce more wordplay and abstract connections. Weekend puzzles vary but often feature playful or thematic twists tied to current events or holidays.