Issue #1077 Sat 23 May
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — May 23, 2026
A tidy collection of pop culture and stylistic choices. The rhythm here is steady, rewarding a measured approach to the grid.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A vanity table littered with bobby pins, hairspray cans, and the slow, focused work of a morning transformation.
Cosmetic grooming styles
Examples of one named set
Members are 7–9 letters; first letters B, C, P.
HAIRDOS
One is BEEHIVE.
BEEHIVE · BOUFFANT · CHIGNON · POMPADOUR
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
You offer a seat on the train, but the person you are helping insists you take it first.
Adverbs of preference
Synonyms
Members are 5–10 letters; first letters F, P, R, S.
MORE READILY
One is FIRST.
FIRST · PREFERABLY · RATHER · SOONER
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A stack of dog-eared graphic novels waiting on the nightstand.
Comic book figures
Examples of one named set
Members are 7–12 letters; first letters D, H, N, W.
MARVEL CHARACTERS
One is DAREDEVIL.
DAREDEVIL · HAWKEYE · NIGHTCRAWLER · WOLVERINE
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The theater lights dim and the opening crawl begins its slow ascent into the stars.
Film franchise titles
Each fills the same blank
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters E, F, L, P.
WORDS AFTER "THE" IN "STAR WARS" MOVIE TITLES
One is EMPIRE.
EMPIRE · FORCE · LAST · PHANTOM
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
HAIRDOSBEEHIVE · BOUFFANT · CHIGNON · POMPADOUR
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Reveal the green group
MORE READILYFIRST · PREFERABLY · RATHER · SOONER
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Reveal the blue group
MARVEL CHARACTERSDAREDEVIL · HAWKEYE · NIGHTCRAWLER · WOLVERINE
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Reveal the violet group
WORDS AFTER "THE" IN "STAR WARS" MOVIE TITLESEMPIRE · FORCE · LAST · PHANTOM
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on May 23, 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 23, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on May 23, 2026?
NYT Connections on May 23, 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 23, 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 #1077?
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