A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1101
hints & answers for June 16, 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 June 16, 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, G and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLUE CHEESE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CREAMY SALAD DRESSINGS

Reveal all four words
  • BLUE CHEESE
  • CAESAR
  • GREEN GODDESS
  • RANCH

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COURT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ATTENDANTS

Reveal all four words
  • COURT
  • ENTOURAGE
  • RETINUE
  • SUITE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLACK SWAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RARE THINGS, IDIOMATICALLY

Reveal all four words
  • BLACK SWAN
  • BLUE MOON
  • PERFECT STORM
  • UNICORN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BASKETBALL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT "HOOPS" MIGHT REFER TO

Reveal all four words
  • BASKETBALL
  • EARRINGS
  • RED TAPE
  • RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS GEAR
Show categories only
  • Yellow: CREAMY SALAD DRESSINGS
  • Green: ATTENDANTS
  • Blue: RARE THINGS, IDIOMATICALLY
  • Purple: WHAT "HOOPS" MIGHT REFER TO

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CREAMY SALAD DRESSINGS

BLUE CHEESE · CAESAR · GREEN GODDESS · RANCH

Green

ATTENDANTS

COURT · ENTOURAGE · RETINUE · SUITE

Blue

RARE THINGS, IDIOMATICALLY

BLACK SWAN · BLUE MOON · PERFECT STORM · UNICORN

Purple

WHAT "HOOPS" MIGHT REFER TO

BASKETBALL · EARRINGS · RED TAPE · RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS GEAR

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.