Issue #1076 Fri 22 May
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — May 22, 2026
A patient grid today. Expect a steady climb with three straightforward categories and one trickier connection hiding in plain sight.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
You send an email to a former colleague just to see if they are still at the same firm.
Professional communication
Verb synonyms
Members are 8–10 letters; first letters C, F, R, T.
REACH BACK OUT
One is CHECK IN.
CHECK IN · FOLLOW UP · RECONNECT · TOUCH BASE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The way you hold your fork and knife at a formal dinner without thinking about it.
Social expectations
Synonyms
Members are 6–14 letters; first letters C, S, U.
THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE
One is CONVENTION.
CONVENTION · CUSTOM · SOCIAL NORM · UNWRITTEN RULE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
You stand still while your suitcase moves toward you on a rubber track.
Industrial infrastructure
Items sharing one feature
Members are 13–19 letters; first letters A, B, C, R.
PLACES WITH CONVEYOR BELTS
One is ASSEMBLY LINE.
ASSEMBLY LINE · BAGGAGE CLAIM · CHECKOUT LANE · REVOLVING SUSHI BAR
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A person whose name sounds exactly like a common adjective or noun.
Linguistic play
Each starts with a hidden item
Members are 7–13 letters; first letters C, E, L, T.
STARTING WITH NAME HOMOPHONES
One is CARRY-ON.
CARRY-ON · EL NIÑO · LOOSEY-GOOSEY · TAILOR-MADE
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
REACH BACK OUTCHECK IN · FOLLOW UP · RECONNECT · TOUCH BASE
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Reveal the green group
THE WAY THINGS ARE DONECONVENTION · CUSTOM · SOCIAL NORM · UNWRITTEN RULE
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Reveal the blue group
PLACES WITH CONVEYOR BELTSASSEMBLY LINE · BAGGAGE CLAIM · CHECKOUT LANE · REVOLVING SUSHI BAR
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Reveal the violet group
STARTING WITH NAME HOMOPHONESCARRY-ON · EL NIÑO · LOOSEY-GOOSEY · TAILOR-MADE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on May 22, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for May 22, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on May 22, 2026?
NYT Connections on May 22, 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 May 22, 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 #1076?
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