A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1016
hints & answers for March 23, 2026

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 March 23, 2026. 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 D, H, M and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DECENT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PRINCIPLED

Reveal all four words
  • DECENT
  • HONEST
  • MORAL
  • STAND-UP

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with L, P, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

LIGHT BULB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GAME-CHANGING INVENTIONS

Reveal all four words
  • LIGHT BULB
  • PRINTING PRESS
  • SLICED BREAD
  • WHEEL

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with M, M, O and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

MARY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

"VIRGIN" THINGS

Reveal all four words
  • MARY
  • MOCKTAIL
  • OLIVE OIL
  • VIRGO

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BRAIN STEW belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING IN NICKNAME HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • BRAIN STEW
  • BROCCOLI RABE
  • JUNGLE GYM
  • OPEN MIC
Show categories only
  • Yellow: PRINCIPLED
  • Green: GAME-CHANGING INVENTIONS
  • Blue: "VIRGIN" THINGS
  • Purple: ENDING IN NICKNAME HOMOPHONES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PRINCIPLED

DECENT · HONEST · MORAL · STAND-UP

Green

GAME-CHANGING INVENTIONS

LIGHT BULB · PRINTING PRESS · SLICED BREAD · WHEEL

Blue

"VIRGIN" THINGS

MARY · MOCKTAIL · OLIVE OIL · VIRGO

Purple

ENDING IN NICKNAME HOMOPHONES

BRAIN STEW · BROCCOLI RABE · JUNGLE GYM · OPEN MIC

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.