A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #15
hints & answers for June 26, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows June 26, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, C, C and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CAW belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BIRD SOUNDS

Reveal all four words
  • CAW
  • CHIRP
  • CLUCK
  • TWEET

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, P, T and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BROWN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

COLORS

Reveal all four words
  • BROWN
  • PINK
  • TURQUOISE
  • VIOLET

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Things you might pack for a day beside the water.

Show one word

LURE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FISHING GEAR

Reveal all four words
  • LURE
  • REEL
  • ROD
  • TACKLE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, J, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HOOK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FICTIONAL PIRATES

Reveal all four words
  • HOOK
  • JONES
  • SILVER
  • SPARROW
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BIRD SOUNDS
  • Green: COLORS
  • Blue: FISHING GEAR
  • Purple: FICTIONAL PIRATES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BIRD SOUNDS

CAW · CHIRP · CLUCK · TWEET

Green

COLORS

BROWN · PINK · TURQUOISE · VIOLET

Blue

FISHING GEAR

LURE · REEL · ROD · TACKLE

Purple

FICTIONAL PIRATES

HOOK · JONES · SILVER · SPARROW

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.