A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1076
hints & answers for May 22, 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 May 22, 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, F, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHECK IN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

REACH BACK OUT

Reveal all four words
  • CHECK IN
  • FOLLOW UP
  • RECONNECT
  • TOUCH BASE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CONVENTION belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE

Reveal all four words
  • CONVENTION
  • CUSTOM
  • SOCIAL NORM
  • UNWRITTEN RULE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ASSEMBLY LINE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PLACES WITH CONVEYOR BELTS

Reveal all four words
  • ASSEMBLY LINE
  • BAGGAGE CLAIM
  • CHECKOUT LANE
  • REVOLVING SUSHI BAR

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CARRY-ON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH NAME HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • CARRY-ON
  • EL NIÑO
  • LOOSEY-GOOSEY
  • TAILOR-MADE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: REACH BACK OUT
  • Green: THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE
  • Blue: PLACES WITH CONVEYOR BELTS
  • Purple: STARTING WITH NAME HOMOPHONES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

REACH BACK OUT

CHECK IN · FOLLOW UP · RECONNECT · TOUCH BASE

Green

THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE

CONVENTION · CUSTOM · SOCIAL NORM · UNWRITTEN RULE

Blue

PLACES WITH CONVEYOR BELTS

ASSEMBLY LINE · BAGGAGE CLAIM · CHECKOUT LANE · REVOLVING SUSHI BAR

Purple

STARTING WITH NAME HOMOPHONES

CARRY-ON · EL NIÑO · LOOSEY-GOOSEY · TAILOR-MADE

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.