A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1044
hints & answers for April 20, 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 20, 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, P and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BILLOW belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MASS OF SMOKE

Reveal all four words
  • BILLOW
  • CLOUD
  • PLUME
  • PUFF

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Things you might pack for a day beside the water.

Show one word

BAIT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FISHING GEAR

Reveal all four words
  • BAIT
  • HOOK
  • NET
  • ROD

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CANNIBALISM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS

Reveal all four words
  • CANNIBALISM
  • HOURGLASS
  • VENOM
  • WEB

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

BLUE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ MONDAY

Reveal all four words
  • BLUE
  • CYBER
  • MANIC
  • MEATLESS

Each entry comes before "MONDAY" to form a word, expression or name: BLUE → BLUE MONDAY; CYBER → CYBER MONDAY; MANIC → MANIC MONDAY; MEATLESS → MEATLESS MONDAY.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: MASS OF SMOKE
  • Green: FISHING GEAR
  • Blue: ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS
  • Purple: ___ MONDAY

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

MASS OF SMOKE

BILLOW · CLOUD · PLUME · PUFF

Green

FISHING GEAR

BAIT · HOOK · NET · ROD

Blue

ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS

CANNIBALISM · HOURGLASS · VENOM · WEB

Purple

___ MONDAY

BLUE · CYBER · MANIC · MEATLESS

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.