NYT Connections#1089

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Medium Daily Puzzle

Yesterday's NYT Connections Hints and Answer

Q: What is the Yellow category theme?

GREEDILY CONTROL - This yellow category contains words related to this theme.

Q: What is the Green category theme?

TOOTHED WHEELS - This green category contains words related to this theme.

Q: What is the Blue category theme?

PORTMANTEAUX - This blue category contains words related to this theme.

Q: What is the Purple category theme?

BULL___ - This purple category contains words related to this theme.

Get today's NYT Connections hints and answers for 2026-03-15! Need help solving the puzzle? We've got category clues and the full solution. Play smarter!

Game Type

NYT Connections

Answer Length

16 words, 4 groups

Play Official

Play NYT Connections

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a word puzzle where you group 16 words into 4 categories of 4 words each. The categories have different difficulty levels indicated by colors: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).

Welcome to NYT Connections! Ready to find the hidden connections? Whether you need a gentle hint or the complete solution, we've got you covered. Discover the themes that link these 16 words and master today's puzzle with our comprehensive guide.

NYT Connections Tips & Strategies

Start with the most obvious connections first (usually Yellow)
Look for proper nouns, plural forms, or common categories
Be careful with red herrings - words that seem to fit multiple groups
The Purple group often involves wordplay, puns, or very specific themes
If you're stuck, try thinking about what words have in common beyond their literal meaning

NYT Connections Hints for 15 March 2026 [#1089]

Need a nudge in the right direction? Use these hints to help solve today's puzzle.

Yellow GREEDILY CONTROL

Green TOOTHED WHEELS

Blue PORTMANTEAUX

Purple BULL___

Spoiler Alert!

The complete answers are below. Only scroll down if you want to see the full solution!

General Connections Tips

Learn the strategies to master NYT Connections puzzles

How to play NYT Connections?

Game Rules

NYT Connections is a word puzzle where you need to find groups of four words that share something in common. Each group has a specific theme or category. You have 4 mistakes allowed before the game ends. The categories range from straightforward to very tricky wordplay.

What are the difficulty levels in NYT Connections?

Strategy Tips

The four groups are color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green (easy), Blue (medium), and Purple (hardest). Purple often involves wordplay, puns, or very obscure connections.

What is the Yellow category theme?

Yellow Group

GREEDILY CONTROL - This yellow category contains words related to this theme.

What is the Green category theme?

Green Group

TOOTHED WHEELS - This green category contains words related to this theme.

What is the Blue category theme?

Blue Group

PORTMANTEAUX - This blue category contains words related to this theme.

What is the Purple category theme?

Purple Group

BULL___ - This purple category contains words related to this theme.

NYT Connections Answers for 15 March 2026

The complete answers are below. Only scroll down if you want to see the full solution!

Yellow

GREEDILY CONTROL

HOG

CORNER

MONOPOLIZE

BOGART

Green

TOOTHED WHEELS

COG

GEAR

PINION

SPROCKET

Blue

PORTMANTEAUX

SPORK

BLOG

SMOG

MOTEL

Purple

BULL___

DOG

FROG

DOZE

HORN

Latest NYT Connections Answers

Search and sort by date, game #, or answer.

Date ▼	Game # ↕	Answer ↕
Mar 16, 2026	1095	(ANIMAL GROUP NAMES): GAGGLE \| PACK \| POD \| PRIDE \| (THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING SLOW): GLACIER \| MOLASSES \| SLOTH \| TRAFFIC \| (SILENT "W"): CARTWRIGHT \| TWO \| WRATH \| WRESTLE \| (WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE STATE ABBREVIATIONS): ANY \| EMMY \| ENVY \| OKAY
Mar 15, 2026	1089	(GREEDILY CONTROL): BOGART \| CORNER \| HOG \| MONOPOLIZE \| (TOOTHED WHEELS): COG \| GEAR \| PINION \| SPROCKET \| (PORTMANTEAUX): BLOG \| MOTEL \| SMOG \| SPORK \| (BULL___): DOG \| DOZE \| FROG \| HORN
Mar 14, 2026	1079	(HYPNOTIC STATE): DREAM \| HAZE \| SPELL \| TRANCE \| (STARTING WITH PREFIXES MEANING "TWO"): BINARY \| DIOXIDE \| DUOLINGO \| TWILIGHT \| (FICTIONAL INSPECTORS): CLOUSEAU \| GADGET \| JAVERT \| MORSE \| (ENDING IN FEMALE ANIMALS): HOOTENANNY \| LICHEN \| MOSCOW \| NIGHTMARE
Mar 13, 2026	1088	("NO THANKS"): LATER \| NAH \| NEXT TIME \| PASS \| (KINDS OF NUMBERS): EVEN \| IRRATIONAL \| PERFECT \| PRIME \| (KINDS OF WALLS): BERLIN \| BRICK \| FOURTH \| GREAT \| (HOMOPHONES OF NON-NUMERIC AMOUNTS): AWL \| NUN \| PHEW \| SUM
Mar 12, 2026	1086	(PLACES TO FIND SAND): BUNKER \| DESERT \| HOURGLASS \| SANDBOX \| (THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTH): METRONOME \| PENDULUM \| SWING \| WINDSHIELD WIPER \| (APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSES): BARRE \| REFORMER \| SPIN \| STEP \| (FEATURING BIRDS): CUCKOO CLOCK \| FROOT LOOPS \| MEXICAN FLAG \| WEATHER VANE
Mar 11, 2026	1084	(STEAL): LIFT \| PALM \| PINCH \| POCKET \| (MAKE NICER, WITH "UP"): DRESS \| JAZZ \| SPIFF \| SPRUCE \| (KINDS OF CONES): ICE CREAM \| PINE \| SNOW \| TRAFFIC \| (PRONOUN HOMOPHONES): HEE \| MI \| OUI \| YEW
Mar 10, 2026	1082	(COOK WITH DRY HEAT): BROWN \| ROAST \| SEAR \| TOAST \| (FAMILIAL NICKNAMES): CUZ \| GRAM \| POP \| UNC \| (U.S. STATE ABBREVIATIONS): MASS \| MISS \| PENN \| WASH \| (PUNCH): BOX \| DUKE \| SLUG \| SOCK
Mar 09, 2026	1077	(STARTING WITH THE SAME SOUND, SPELLED DIFFERENTLY): WAREHOUSE \| WEARABLE \| WEREWOLF \| WHEREFORE \| (METAPHORS FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY): FISHBOWL \| HOT SEAT \| MICROSCOPE \| SPOTLIGHT \| (MUPPETS): ANIMAL \| BEAKER \| FOZZIE \| GONZO \| (THEY FEATURE A BOSS): COMPANY \| E STREET BAND \| MAFIA \| VIDEO GAME
Mar 08, 2026	1083	(CITIES): LIMA \| NICE \| OSAKA \| PHOENIX \| (PALINDROMES): EYE \| REFER \| ROTATOR \| SELES \| (HORROR MOVIES MINUS "S"): GREMLIN \| JAW \| SINNER \| TREMOR \| (STARTING WITH SLANG FOR ZERO): JACKET \| NADAL \| SQUATTER \| ZIPPER
Dec 31, 2025	991	(HAPPY NEW YEAR!): BALL DROP \| CHAMPAGNE FLUTE \| FIREWORKS \| NOISEMAKER \| (PLACES WHERE THINGS DISAPPEAR): BERMUDA TRIANGLE \| BLACK HOLE \| COUCH CUSHIONS \| DRYER \| (ASSOCIATED WITH PHILADELPHIA): BROTHERLY LOVE \| CHEESESTEAK \| LIBERTY BELL \| ROCKY \| (STARTING WITH BODIES OF WATER): BAY LEAF \| CHANNEL SURF \| SEA BASS \| SOUND BARRIER
Dec 30, 2025	994	(INTENTION): AIM \| GOAL \| OBJECT \| POINT \| (MEASURING DEVICES): CLOCK \| COMPASS \| RULER \| SCALE \| (PARTS OF A FLIGHT): CLIMB \| TAKEOFF \| TAXI \| TOUCHDOWN \| (BIKE ACCESSORIES): BASKET \| BELL \| RACK \| REFLECTOR
Dec 29, 2025	959	(TENDENCY): COURSE \| DIRECTION \| TIDE \| TREND \| (BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES): CELL \| GENE \| PROTEIN \| TISSUE \| (SUMMER OLYMPIC EVENTS): ATHLETICS \| EQUESTRIAN \| SWIMMING \| TRIATHLON \| (CAR BRAND HOMOPHONES): INFINITY \| MINNIE \| OPAL \| OUTIE
Dec 28, 2025	972	(CONTAINERS FOR SHIPPING): BOX \| ENVELOPE \| MAILER \| TUBE \| (UNMOVING): CONSTANT \| STATIC \| STATIONARY \| STILL \| (MECHANICAL WATCH PARTS): GEAR \| PAWL \| RATCHET \| SPRING \| (DOGS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED): DUSKY \| NOODLE \| PERRIER \| SOXER
Dec 27, 2025	948	(AIRLINE CLASSES): BUSINESS \| ECONOMY \| FIRST \| PREMIUM \| (ATTRIBUTE): CITE \| CREDIT \| NAME \| REFERENCE \| (VOCATION): CALLING \| CRAFT \| LINE \| TRADE \| (ENDING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES): DECIDER \| NAMESAKE \| REPORT \| VILLAGER
Dec 26, 2025	957	(CALIFORNIA-BASED CHARACTER TROPES): MOVIE EXEC \| SURFER \| TECH BRO \| VALLEY GIRL \| (COMEDY SUBGENRES): BUDDY \| CRINGE \| SCREWBALL \| STONER \| ('70S ROCK BANDS): AMERICA \| CHICAGO \| FOREIGNER \| JOURNEY \| (BLACK ___): FOREST \| FRIDAY \| PANTHER \| WIDOW
Dec 25, 2025	988	(ORNATE, AS PROSE): EXCESSIVE \| FLOWERY \| MELODRAMATIC \| PURPLE \| (CREATE): COIN \| HATCH \| FASHION \| MAKE UP \| (THINGS WITH STEMS): CHERRY \| FLOWER \| MUSICAL NOTE \| WINE GLASS \| (COMPRISED OF SOLFEGE (DO-RE-MI)): LAREDO \| MIRE \| RETIRE \| SOLTI
Dec 24, 2025	969	(SLANG FOR MONEY): BACON \| BREAD \| CHEESE \| PAPER \| (MASTICATE): BITE \| CHAMP \| CHEW \| MUNCH \| (FISH): CHAR \| POLLOCK \| SOLE \| TANG \| (WAYS TO VOCALIZE MUSICALLY PLUS A LETTER): HUMP \| RAPT \| SINGE \| WHISTLER
Dec 23, 2025	973	(VULNERABILITY): ACHILLES’ HEEL \| DOWNFALL \| KRYPTONITE \| SOFT SPOT \| (FREUDIAN CONCEPTS): FIXATION \| OEDIPUS COMPLEX \| SUPEREGO \| UNCONSCIOUS \| (CHARACTERS IN CAPES): DARTH VADER \| DRACULA \| LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD \| SUPERMAN \| (STARTING WITH SLANG FOR SAUSAGE): BRATZ \| DOGMA \| FRANKENSTEIN \| LINKLATER
Dec 22, 2025	951	(INFLUX): RASH \| RUSH \| SURGE \| WAVE \| (SUBSEQUENT): COMING \| FOLLOWING \| FUTURE \| LATER \| (KINDS OF CARDS): BUSINESS \| GREETING \| MEMBERSHIP \| PLAYING \| (COLORS MINUS LAST LETTER): BROW \| CYA \| PIN \| WHIT
Dec 21, 2025	976	(FEATURES OF A TEAPOT): HANDLE \| LID \| SPOUT \| STRAINER \| (LIBRARY SECTIONS): CIRCULATION \| PERIODICALS \| REFERENCE \| STACKS \| (ARISE): EMERGE \| FLOW \| ISSUE \| RESULT \| (___DROP): AIR \| EAVES \| GUM \| RAIN

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Previous Connections Puzzles

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer
Mar 16, 2026