The New York Times continues to build a loyal following for its daily puzzle game, NYT Connections, a word challenge that combines logic, vocabulary and lateral thinking. The May 11 puzzle (#1065) delivers an entertaining mix of straightforward associations and deceptive wordplay, pushing players to look beyond surface meanings. Today's grid includes themes linked to stealth, scams, detective films and cleverly hidden body parts inside words. This guide covers the full set of hints, answers and strategies to help you solve the puzzle.
What is NYT's 'Connections' game
Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times that asks players to identify hidden relationships between words. The game uses four colour-coded difficulty levels — Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple — with each category becoming progressively more challenging.
Players receive 16 words and must divide them into four groups of four based on a shared connection. These links may involve meanings, cultural references, spelling patterns or subtle forms of wordplay, making the game both accessible and mentally demanding.
NYT Connections hints for today
- Yellow: Ways to move quietly or secretly
- Green: Types of deceptive plans or frauds
- Blue: Well-known mystery or detective films
- Purple: Words hiding body parts inside them
NYT Connections answers for May 11, 2026
Here are the correct groupings for today's puzzle:
- Yellow – MOVE STEALTHILY, WITH 'IN': CREEP, SLIP, SNEAK, STEAL
- Green – KINDS OF SCHEMES: COLOR, PONZI, PYRAMID, RHYME
- Blue – DETECTIVE MOVIES: CHINATOWN, KNIVES OUT, SEVEN, VERTIGO
- Purple – BODY PARTS SURROUNDED BY TWO LETTERS: ELEGY, KARMA, KEYED, SHANDY
How to play NYT Connections
Understand the objective
The game presents a grid of 16 words, and your goal is to organise them into four groups of four. Each group shares a hidden connection that may involve definitions, themes, patterns or wordplay.
Access the puzzle
A new Connections puzzle is released daily on The New York Times website and mobile app, encouraging players to return each day for a fresh challenge.
Begin analysing
Scan all the words carefully and try to identify the clearest relationships first. Rearranging the board can often make patterns easier to spot.
Submit your choices
Select four words that you believe belong together and submit them as a group. The game will immediately confirm whether the connection is correct.
Evaluate feedback
Correct answers are colour-coded and locked into place. Incorrect guesses reduce your remaining number of attempts.
Track attempts
Players are allowed only a limited number of mistakes, so elimination and careful reasoning become increasingly important as the puzzle progresses.
Difficulty levels explained
- Yellow: Most straightforward category
- Green and Blue: Moderate difficulty with trickier associations
- Purple: Most challenging, usually involving wordplay or abstract thinking
Strategies for solving NYT Connections
- Start with the most obvious groupings to simplify the board
- Use elimination to reduce possible combinations
- Look for hidden patterns in spelling, sounds or cultural references
- Avoid rushing, as many words are intentionally designed to mislead players
- Consider alternative meanings for familiar words
Other NYT games to explore
If you enjoy Connections, The New York Times also offers several other popular puzzle games:
- Wordle: Guess a five-letter word within six attempts
- Spelling Bee: Create as many words as possible from a set of letters
- Mini Crossword: A short daily crossword puzzle
About the Author
TOI Tech Desk The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.
