A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1039
hints & answers for April 15, 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 April 15, 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 C, D, G and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CAP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GRADUATION GEAR

Reveal all four words
  • CAP
  • DIPLOMA
  • GOWN
  • TASSEL

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHORE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TEDIOUS UNDERTAKING

Reveal all four words
  • CHORE
  • GRIND
  • HASSLE
  • TRIAL

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FACILE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OVERSIMPLISTIC

Reveal all four words
  • FACILE
  • FLIP
  • SHALLOW
  • TRITE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CASTLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SHAPES OF CHESS PIECES

Reveal all four words
  • CASTLE
  • CROWN
  • HORSE
  • MITER
Show categories only
  • Yellow: GRADUATION GEAR
  • Green: TEDIOUS UNDERTAKING
  • Blue: OVERSIMPLISTIC
  • Purple: SHAPES OF CHESS PIECES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

GRADUATION GEAR

CAP · DIPLOMA · GOWN · TASSEL

Green

TEDIOUS UNDERTAKING

CHORE · GRIND · HASSLE · TRIAL

Blue

OVERSIMPLISTIC

FACILE · FLIP · SHALLOW · TRITE

Purple

SHAPES OF CHESS PIECES

CASTLE · CROWN · HORSE · MITER

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.