NYT Connections Hints Today: Check Answers and Clues, May 31, 2026

The NYT Connections game is a daily word puzzle created by The New York Times, in which players must arrange 16 words into 4 groups containing 4 words each based on an underlying connection among the words in each group.

The connection among the four words in each group may be defined by such things as word meaning, word phrases, synonyms, pop culture references, or word play. Since many of the words can function as a member of more than one group, finding and identifying the patterns may prove to be difficult.

The NYT Connections game for May 31, 2026 consists of 16 new words which have been designed to be grouped according to an underlying connection among them. Each puzzle will consist of any combination of the sixteen words and has no pre-selected group of words used. The puzzle has the same structure and rules as every previous day's.

Each connection used for grouping will need to be determined by solving the daily puzzle on how to group the words into 4 categories using logic, guessing and process of elimination methods to determine the four hidden categories of words.

Check Out: What Is NYT Connections? The New York Times Puzzle Game Explained

Hints for NYT Connections May 31, 2026

Here are the hints for NYT Connections, May 31, 2026, Puzzle #1085. 

You have to club four words together that belong to the same category, which will get sorted into 5 colours: yellow, green, blue, and purple. 

You just need to be good at pattern recognition and the ability to sort them into the correct categories. 

YELLOW: THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW

GREEN: BILLIARDS TERMS

BLUE: SLANG FOR A SAILOR

PURPLE: KINDS OF WOOD PLUS "S"

Let us find out the answers to today’s NYT Connections! Let us see how many you were able to get right! 

NYT Connections Answers for May 31, 2026 (Sunday)

Here are the solutions for NYT Connections Puzzle #1085 for May 31, 2026! 

Below you will see the four categories from today’s game, including the correct words that make up each set. Match these answers to your guesses of each category!

YELLOW: THINGS THAT ARE YELLOW (BUTTER, PIKACHU, RUBBER DUCK, SCHOOL BUS)

GREEN: BILLIARDS TERMS (BREAK, CUE, POCKET, RACK)

BLUE: SLANG FOR A SAILOR (JACK, SALT, SEA DOG, TAR)

PURPLE: KINDS OF WOOD PLUS "S" (SASH, SOAK, SPINE, STEAK)

Let us find out the answers to today’s NYT Connections! Let us see how many you were able to get right! 

Let’s take the time to review the groups one at a time and look at the connections that bind these four groups together.

What is the NYT Connections Game?

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle that requires players to group 16 words into 4 sets of 4 words. The groups will have a hidden connection. Players must identify which words belong to each category, and the categories can sometimes be easy but should often include complicated wordplay and cultural references. 

Each puzzle contains 4 correct groups; players can use as many mistakes as they have to continue playing the game. The game can vary in difficulty, but most days it is easier than some. Players can use hints to help develop their skill, but they must be able to find all the groups before they run out of time. Connections is a popular brain teaser that will encourage you to use your flexible thinking skills and be detail-oriented.

How to Play the NYT Connections Puzzle?

Connections is an online game created by The New York Times that requires players to create four sets of four words by grouping them together based on hidden relationships among them. There are many different types of patterns that could be your help in trying to create the four groups of four words; these patterns include things like categories, synonyms or phrases, and cultural references.

After finding four words that you think fit together you will submit that grouping to see if it is correct or not. Each time you make a guess you will have a limited number of guesses allowed before your time expires. If your guess is correct, the group you have just created will lock into place and be removed from the Connections game board. 

Your objective is to use word associations and logic reasoning to find all 4 of the groups on the Connections game. When you successfully complete the entire board, you win! The Connections game will reset every 24 hours with a new group of words to complete.

Best Strategies to Solve NYT Connections Puzzles

The goal of the NYT Connections is to use your pattern recognition and flexibility with ideas to find how four of the sixteen words form an identified group. As you start out looking over the words scan for the obvious such as color, animals, action words.

Choose the easiest group of words first to help eliminate distractions. After you find the simplest, look for possibilities-such as words matching up with multiple groups of four- then check that out mentally before submitting. Be mindful of any word play or hidden meanings, or phrases. 

Use the elimination process in trying to determine other groups and don't guess quickly, as there is a limited number of incorrect guesses before the game ends. Try to look at the words differently to find new connections. Leave any word you are uncertain about to the end and continue re-evaluating until all of your groups of four are complete. The more you practice this game, the better you will be at both speed and recognition.

Other NYT Games to Explore

If NYT Connections has become your new favorite, check out other daily brain teasers and games from The New York Times. 

Wordle: Guess a five-letter word in six attempts. 

Spelling Bee: Craft as many words as possible from a set of seven letters.

Mini Crossword: For a quick wordplay, perfect for a coffee break.

That's all for today's NYT Connections puzzle! Be sure to come back tomorrow for NYT Connections Hints and Answers for June 1, 2026.