Issue #1036 Sun 12 Apr
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — April 12, 2026
This puzzle offers a balanced arrangement of four distinct themes. Expect a mix of concrete nouns and abstract verbs, with a few clever overlaps that invite careful sorting.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The small details that make a pair of trousers functional.
Clothing anatomy
Items sharing one feature
Members are 3–9 letters; first letters B, C, F, P.
PANTS FEATURES
One is BELT LOOP.
BELT LOOP · CUFF · FLY · POCKET
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
Deciding on a point of view before forming an argument.
Cognitive orientation
Synonyms
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters A, P, S, T.
PERSPECTIVE
One is ANGLE.
ANGLE · POSITION · STANCE · TAKE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The way a light source or a speaker spreads energy outward.
Action verbs
Verb synonyms
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters C, P, R, S.
EMIT
One is CAST.
CAST · PROJECT · RADIATE · SHED
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A toy found in a child's collection, regardless of its material.
Compound phrases
Each fills the same blank
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters P, R, T.
___ DOLL
One is PAPER.
PAPER · RAG · RUSSIAN · TROLL
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
PANTS FEATURESBELT LOOP · CUFF · FLY · POCKET
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Reveal the green group
PERSPECTIVEANGLE · POSITION · STANCE · TAKE
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Reveal the blue group
EMITCAST · PROJECT · RADIATE · SHED
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Reveal the violet group
___ DOLLPAPER · RAG · RUSSIAN · TROLL
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on April 12, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for April 12, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on April 12, 2026?
NYT Connections on April 12, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on April 12, 2026?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #1036?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words