NYT Connections refreshes daily with 16 words that sort into four themed groups. If you want a nudge before revealing the grid, start with the hints below. Prefer to skip straight to the solution? Categories and answers are further down. You can also revisit past games in the Connections archive.

Today’s board (for reference)

  • CONNECTION
  • BANSHEE
  • CARPET
  • STRAND
  • PIP
  • CHEMISTRY
  • BANK
  • TILE
  • HEARTBREAKER
  • WOOD
  • SPARK
  • COAST
  • LAMINATE
  • SHORE
  • WAILER
  • FIREWORKS

Hints, graded from lightest to spiciest

  • Yellow (easiest): Under your feet.
  • Green: Sand and sun.
  • Blue: Roses and chocolates.
  • Purple (hardest): Like someone in the E Street Band.

Today’s categories (spoilers)

  • Yellow: Flooring options
  • Green: Beachy area
  • Blue: Romantic vibe
  • Purple: Member of a classic backing band

Full answers (spoilers)

  • Flooring options: CARPET, LAMINATE, TILE, WOOD
  • Beachy area: BANK, COAST, SHORE, STRAND
  • Romantic vibe: CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS, SPARK
  • Member of a classic backing band: BANSHEE, HEARTBREAKER, PIP, WAILER

Why some words mislead

  • STRAND can mean a beach or shoreline; it’s not just a thread.
  • PIP often reads as a seed, but here it’s one of “the Pips” from Gladys Knight and the Pips.
  • CONNECTION is a meta trap that still belongs with the romance set, not a self-referential “game” group.
  • BANK leans coastal in this grid; ignore its finance meaning.

Quick strategy check

  • Confirm you can name all four items in a set. If one feels forced, it probably is.
  • Look for tight domains first (materials, places) before looser vibes (feelings, pop-culture references).
  • Shuffle the grid to break visual pairings that create red herrings.

Play today’s puzzle on the NYT Games site, and browse prior grids in the archive if you want more practice.