Yesterday's NYT Connections Hints and Answer
Jun 16, 2026
Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer
17 June 2026 · 16 words · 4 groups · 4 mistakes allowed
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Category Hints for 17 June 2026
Each category shows its theme. Reveal one word from the group when you need more help.
Yellow (Easiest)
ALCOVE
Green (Easy)
BODILY WORDS FOR ATTITUDE
Blue (Medium)
FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH
Purple (Hardest)
STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "ILK"
Quick Tips
Rules and strategy to help before you look at the answers.
1
Game RulesEasy
How many groups are there and how many mistakes are allowed?
2
StrategyMedium
Why is the Purple group so hard?
3
Yellow GroupEasy
What is the Yellow category theme for 17 June 2026?
4
Green GroupEasy
What is the Green category theme for 17 June 2026?
5
Blue GroupMedium
What is the Blue category theme for 17 June 2026?
6
Purple GroupHard
What is the Purple category theme for 17 June 2026?
Full Solution for 17 June 2026
Spoiler belowYellow
ALCOVE
CAVITY
NOOK
RECESS
NICHE
Green
BODILY WORDS FOR ATTITUDE
MOUTH
CHEEK
LIP
NERVE
Blue
FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH
CALLIOPE
IRIS
ECHO
NEMESIS
Purple
STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "ILK"
CLASSIC
KINDLE
TYPEFACE
SORTIE
NYT Connections Strategy Tips
How to solve Connections faster and with fewer mistakes.
Start with Yellow, always
Yellow is the easiest group by design. Locking it in first gives you 4 fewer words to worry about and reduces the chance of a red-herring mistake in harder groups.
Watch out for red herrings
The NYT deliberately places words that could fit two or more categories. If a word feels too obvious, check whether it might belong to a harder group instead.
Purple is almost always wordplay
The Purple group commonly uses "___ before/after ___", double meanings, homophones, or phrases where each word follows an unexpected pattern. If you can not see a literal connection, think figuratively.
Find groups of 5 or more, then trim
If you spot 5 words that all seem to belong together, one is a decoy. Identifying the odd word out is easier than guessing the whole group correctly at once.
Use "One Away" feedback wisely
When the game tells you you are "One Away", do not guess again immediately. Look at your four words and ask which one could belong to a different category before risking another mistake.
Think about the category label, not just the words
NYT Connections category titles are often very specific (e.g., "Things that precede BALL"). Reading possible category titles in your head for each group of 4 can click the connection into place.
Need to brush up on vocabulary? Browse 5-letter words or explore all word tools.
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Latest NYT Connections Answers
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DateGame #Answer
Jun 17, 2026#1177(ALCOVE): CAVITY | NICHE | NOOK | RECESS | (BODILY WORDS FOR ATTITUDE): CHEEK | LIP | MOUTH | NERVE | (FIGURES IN GREEK MYTH): CALLIOPE | ECHO | IRIS | NEMESIS | (STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "ILK"): CLASSIC | KINDLE | SORTIE | TYPEFACE
Jun 16, 2026#1185(CREAMY SALAD DRESSINGS): BLUE CHEESE | CAESAR | GREEN GODDESS | RANCH | (ATTENDANTS): COURT | ENTOURAGE | RETINUE | SUITE | (RARE THINGS, IDIOMATICALLY): BLACK SWAN | BLUE MOON | PERFECT STORM | UNICORN | (WHAT "HOOPS" MIGHT REFER TO): BASKETBALL | EARRINGS | RED TAPE | RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS GEAR
Jun 15, 2026#1184(STAYING POWER): LEGS | MOMENTUM | STAMINA | TRACTION | (GET READY FOR A NIGHT OUT): ACCESSORIZE | CHANGE | PRIMP | SHOWER | (CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS): DOG | DRAGON | HORSE | SNAKE | (FLOWERS): ANEMONE | LARKSPUR | MONKSHOOD | PHLOX
Jun 14, 2026#1175(CLASSIC SLAPSTICK PROPS): BANANA PEEL | CREAM PIE | RUBBER CHICKEN | SELTZER BOTTLE | (THINGS THAT SPIN): GLOBE | GRINDSTONE | GYROSCOPE | ROULETTE WHEEL | (FEATURED IN "ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND"): CATERPILLAR | POCKET WATCH | RABBIT HOLE | TEA PARTY | (WHAT "MA" MIGHT REFER TO): MASSACHUSETTS | MASTER OF ARTS | MILLIAMPERE | MOTHER
Jun 13, 2026#1178(SEEN AT A TEA SERVICE): SAUCER | SPOON | TEACUP | TONGS | (ENDURING SONG): CLASSIC | HIT | OLDIE | STANDARD | (USED IN MOVIE PRACTICAL EFFECTS): MAKEUP | MINIATURE | PROSTHETIC | PUPPET | (WORDS BEFORE "STORY" IN MOVIE TITLES): CHRISTMAS | NEVERENDING | TOY | WEST SIDE
Jun 12, 2026#1182(STARTING WITH INCANTATIONS): CHARM BRACELET | CURSE WORD | HEX KEY | SPELL CHECKER | (STARTING WITH ANIMAL GROUP NAMES): MURDER MYSTERY | PACK RAT | PRIDE ROCK | SCHOOL DAYS | (STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "REPEAT"): COPY EDITOR | ECHO PARK | MIRROR SELFIE | QUOTE UNQUOTE | (STARTING WITH PARTS OF A RIVER): BANK TELLER | BED HEAD | DELTA AIRLINES | MOUTH GUARD
Jun 11, 2026#1180(PARTS OF A WORKOUT ROUTINE): BALANCE | CARDIO | STRETCHING | WEIGHTS | (THINGS WITH HORNS): BRASS BAND | DEVIL | RHINO | VIKING HELMET | (HOMOPHONES OF SUVS): BRONCHO | FORERUNNER | TROUPER | UCONN | (PAYMENT APPS MINUS A LETTER): ELLE | PAPAL | STRIP | VENO
Jun 10, 2026#1176(TECHNIQUE): FASHION | MANNER | METHOD | WAY | (GROSS THINGS THAT FORM ON WET SURFACES): CRUST | FILM | SCUM | SKIN | (PARTS OF A THEATER): CATWALK | PIT | STAGE | WINGS | (COUNTED IN DOCUMENT WORD COUNTS): CHARACTER | LINE | PAGE | WORD
Jun 09, 2026#1179(SYMBOLS OF INNOCENCE): ANGEL | BABE | DOVE | LAMB | (THINGS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO REVEAL): PASSWORD | SECRET | SPOILER | SURPRISE | (THINGS REPRESENTED IN SUPERSCRIPT): ASTERISK | DEGREE | EXPONENT | TRADEMARK | (SLANG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS): AXE | BONE | KEYS | SKINS
Jun 08, 2026#1174(LANDFORMS BY WATER): DELTA | ISLAND | ISTHMUS | PENINSULA | (SLANG FOR HEAD): COCONUT | DOME | MELON | PATE | (THINGS THAT CAN BE SPIKED): MOHAWK | PUNCH | SEA URCHIN | VOLLEYBALL | ("THE ___ MAN" MOVIES): ELEPHANT | INVISIBLE | OMEGA | RUNNING
Jun 07, 2026#1171(TRANSLUCENT, AS FABRIC): GAUZY | GOSSAMER | SHEER | THIN | (SPEAK): EXPRESS | STATE | UTTER | VOICE | (DEMOLISH): GUT | LEVEL | TOTAL | TRASH | (MUSIC GENRE SUFFIXES): CORE | POP | STEP | WAVE
Jun 06, 2026#1169(PILLAR): POLE | POST | SHAFT | STAKE | (INDICATE, AS EMOTIONS): BETRAY | DISPLAY | EXPRESS | REGISTER | (KINDS OF LIZARDS): BASILISK | DRAGON | MONITOR | SKINK | (___ TABLE): DINNER | DRAFTING | ROUND | TIMES
Jun 05, 2026#1172(ASSOCIATED WITH HANSEL AND GRETEL): BREADCRUMB | FOREST | OVEN | WITCH | (BIT OF CEREAL): CLUSTER | FLAKE | LOOP | PUFF | (DEMI MOORE MOVIES): DISCLOSURE | GHOST | STRIPTEASE | THE SUBSTANCE | (ENDING IN METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION): INCUBUS | OSCAR | QUATRAIN | SITUATIONSHIP
Jun 04, 2026#1162(PAINTING MEDIA): ACRYLIC | GOUACHE | OIL | TEMPERA | (ESPRIT): GUSTO | PANACHE | VERVE | VINEGAR | (STARTS OF CLASSIC HIP-HOP GROUPS): BEASTIE | PUBLIC | RUN | SALT | (GHOST ___): KITCHEN | PEPPER | TOWN | WRITER
Jun 03, 2026#1170(KINDS OF RICE): BROWN | JASMINE | STICKY | SUSHI | (GUMMY BEAR DESCRIPTORS): COLORFUL | GUMMY | SUGARY | URSINE | (SAVORY STUFFED PASTRIES): EMPANADA | FATAYER | PASTY | SAMOSA | (DISNEY PRINCESSES MINUS LAST LETTER): ARIE | BELL | MOAN | RAY
Jun 02, 2026#1173(CLANDESTINE): CLOAK-AND-DAGGER | COVERT | HUSH-HUSH | TOP SECRET | (BRITISH POTATO DISHES): BUBBLE AND SQUEAK | CHIPS | JACKET POTATO | MASH | (HERALDIC ACHIEVEMENTS): COAT OF ARMS | CREST | HELMET | SHIELD | (ENDING IN MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS): CAPE MAY | FREE WILL | GRAPE MUST | TIN CAN
Jun 01, 2026#1167(ROOM FEATURES): CEILING | DOOR | WALL | WINDOW | (OLD-TIMEY LOUNGING ACCESSORIES): NEWSPAPER | PIPE | ROBE | SLIPPERS | (SUBJECTS IN TENNESSEE WILLIAMS TITLES): STREETCAR | CAT | MENAGERIE | TATTOO | (___ RING): KEY | ONION | TREE | WEDDING