A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1109
hints & answers for June 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 June 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 G, K, P and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GENESIS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PROG BANDS

Reveal all four words
  • GENESIS
  • KING CRIMSON
  • PINK FLOYD
  • RUSH

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHINA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CLASSIC WEDDING GIFTS

Reveal all four words
  • CHINA
  • LUGGAGE
  • MONEY
  • TOASTER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CLIFFORD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RED CHARACTERS

Reveal all four words
  • CLIFFORD
  • DEADPOOL
  • KOOL-AID MAN
  • MR. KRABS

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Gentle hint

Listen to how the two parts echo each other.

Show one word

CHICK FLICK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RHYMING COMPOUND WORDS

Reveal all four words
  • CHICK FLICK
  • HELTER SKELTER
  • HUMPTY DUMPTY
  • MUMBO JUMBO

The two parts of each compound word rhyme.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: PROG BANDS
  • Green: CLASSIC WEDDING GIFTS
  • Blue: RED CHARACTERS
  • Purple: RHYMING COMPOUND WORDS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PROG BANDS

GENESIS · KING CRIMSON · PINK FLOYD · RUSH

Green

CLASSIC WEDDING GIFTS

CHINA · LUGGAGE · MONEY · TOASTER

Blue

RED CHARACTERS

CLIFFORD · DEADPOOL · KOOL-AID MAN · MR. KRABS

Purple

RHYMING COMPOUND WORDS

CHICK FLICK · HELTER SKELTER · HUMPTY DUMPTY · MUMBO JUMBO

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.