A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1078
hints & answers for May 24, 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 24, 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, P, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COOP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FARM FIXTURES

Reveal all four words
  • COOP
  • PEN
  • SHED
  • STABLE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

MARCH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

LABOR PROTEST ACTIONS

Reveal all four words
  • MARCH
  • PICKET
  • RALLY
  • STRIKE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with D, M, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DRUM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OBJECTS USED IN RITUAL PERFORMANCES

Reveal all four words
  • DRUM
  • MASK
  • RATTLE
  • STAFF

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

HERB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES PLUS A LETTER

Reveal all four words
  • HERB
  • HISS
  • ITSY
  • MYA
Show categories only
  • Yellow: FARM FIXTURES
  • Green: LABOR PROTEST ACTIONS
  • Blue: OBJECTS USED IN RITUAL PERFORMANCES
  • Purple: POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES PLUS A LETTER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

FARM FIXTURES

COOP · PEN · SHED · STABLE

Green

LABOR PROTEST ACTIONS

MARCH · PICKET · RALLY · STRIKE

Blue

OBJECTS USED IN RITUAL PERFORMANCES

DRUM · MASK · RATTLE · STAFF

Purple

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES PLUS A LETTER

HERB · HISS · ITSY · MYA

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.