NYT Connections Hints and Answers Today: May 20, 2026 (Puzzle #1074)
Are you stuck on today’s NYT Connections puzzle? You are not alone. The May 20, 2026, grid (#1074) brings a clever mix of deceptive overlaps and tricky terminology that can challenge even the most experienced players.
Whether you are looking for a gentle nudge in the right direction or just want the final answers to keep your winning streak alive, we have everything you need right here.
NYT Connections: A Quick Overview
Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times that tests your ability to identify relationships between words. The puzzle is divided into four color-coded difficulty groups — Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple — with each level becoming progressively more difficult.
Hints for May 20, 2026 (Puzzle #1074)
If you aren't ready for the answers yet, here are some spoiler-free hints to help you deduce the categories yourself:
Yellow Category Hint: Think about what you see on your kitchen stovetop while cooking.
Green Category Hint: These words describe the quality or capability of being powerful.
Blue Category Hint: These terms are fundamental concepts in music theory.
Purple Category Hint: All these classic films share a common word related to time at the end of their titles.
The Answers for May 20, 2026
If you have tried your best and are ready to see the solution, here is the full breakdown for today’s grid:
| Category | Words |
| STOVE SETTINGS | HIGH, MEDIUM, OFF, SIMMER |
| STRENGTH OR POWER | CONCENTRATION, FORCE, INTENSITY, MIGHT |
| MUSIC THEORY CONCEPTS | INTERVAL, KEY, MODE, SCALE |
| "___ DAY" MOVIES | GROUNDHOG, INDEPENDENCE, THE LONGEST, TRAINING |
Strategy to Win Every Day
Look for Overlaps: NYT intentionally adds "distractor" words. Don't be afraid to click the "shuffle" button to change your perspective.
Start Easy: Always lock in your Yellow and Green groups first. This reduces the number of available words, making it much easier to spot the complex Purple connections.
Check for Phrases: If you see words that seem random, check if they can all be preceded or followed by the same word (like today’s "___ Day" movie category).
Did you solve today's puzzle? Come back tomorrow for the next set of hints and answers. Happy puzzling!