NYT Connections is the daily word game from The New York Times where you sort 16 words into four groups of four, each linked by a hidden theme.
The groups are color‑coded by difficulty: yellow is usually the most straightforward, followed by green and blue, with purple typically being the trickiest set to crack.
You can make only a limited number of wrong guesses, so spotting obvious links early and avoiding red‑herring overlaps is key to solving the grid.
NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 21 June 2026
On 21 June 2026, the NYT Connections puzzle leans into wordplay that mixes straightforward vocabulary with pop‑culture knowledge and a sneaky bit of prefix trickery. The grid balances an accessible weather‑based set with a more abstract group built around phrases that “knock you over,” while TV fans get rewarded with a cluster of classic sitcom titles. The toughest twist is saved for last, where the real connection hides at the start of each word, making this a satisfying solve for players who enjoy spotting subtle linguistic patterns rather than just surface‑level meanings.
NYT Connections Hints for 21 June 2026
Want a nudge without seeing the full solution straight away? Use the layered hints below—each set gets a little more specific.
Category 1:
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Think about what you might see falling from the sky on a gloomy day.
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These words relate to the weather rather than emotions.
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All four can describe forms or amounts of the same natural phenomenon.
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Picture a rainy forecast and the different ways it could be described.
Category 2:
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Imagine something so impressive it figuratively knocks you off your feet.
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Each word can pair with a verb meaning “amaze” or “overwhelm.”
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Think of phrases that describe being totally wowed by news or events.
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Focus on expressions where someone is metaphorically flattened by surprise.
Category 3:
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All four belong to a familiar TV landscape rather than films or books.
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Think of long‑running comedies with ensemble casts and devoted fanbases.
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These titles all aired on the same major American broadcast network.
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If you’re a sitcom binge‑watcher, this set should ring a bell quickly.
Category 4:
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Here, the trick lies at the start of each word rather than the whole.
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The shared idea is tied to insults or put‑downs you might hear in slang or casual speech.
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Isolate the opening chunk of each word and see what kind of jab it reminds you of.
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It’s more about wordplay and hidden structure than straightforward meaning.
If you’d like one extra-light hint, here’s a single example from each group (not in order): SHOWERS, STUNS, SCRUBS, SLAPDASH.
NYT Connections Answers for 21 June 2026
Ready to see how everything fits together? Here are the complete groups and categories for today’s puzzle.
Category 1:
Category 2:
Category 3:
Category 4:
Today’s grid leans heavily on phrases and wordplay, especially in the green and purple groups where meaning emerges only when you think in terms of expressions rather than standalone definitions.
If you spotted the TV titles early, locking in the NBC sitcoms quickly would have made it much easier to see how the remaining words split between weather terms, “bowls over” phrases, and insult‑based openers.
