A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1018
hints & answers for March 25, 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 25, 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 B, C, M and O. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLUR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OBFUSCATE

Reveal all four words
  • BLUR
  • CLOUD
  • MUDDY
  • OBSCURE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Think of titles you could find on a newsstand.

Show one word

FORTUNE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MAGAZINES

Reveal all four words
  • FORTUNE
  • PEOPLE
  • SPIN
  • TIME

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CASH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PAYMENT METHODS

Reveal all four words
  • CASH
  • CHARGE
  • CHECK
  • WIRE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CUR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

UNITS OF VOLUME WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

Reveal all four words
  • CUR
  • GALLOP
  • PING
  • QUARK
Show categories only
  • Yellow: OBFUSCATE
  • Green: MAGAZINES
  • Blue: PAYMENT METHODS
  • Purple: UNITS OF VOLUME WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

OBFUSCATE

BLUR · CLOUD · MUDDY · OBSCURE

Green

MAGAZINES

FORTUNE · PEOPLE · SPIN · TIME

Blue

PAYMENT METHODS

CASH · CHARGE · CHECK · WIRE

Purple

UNITS OF VOLUME WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

CUR · GALLOP · PING · QUARK

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.