The yellow group focuses on popular fitness class formats, making it one of the easiest categories to identify in today’s grid.
Players must recognize words related to demeanor and personal bearing to successfully complete the green category.
The purple category features tool names with their final two letters removed, delivering the puzzle’s most creative challenge.
Today's NYT Connections puzzle presents a well-balanced grid that ranges from fitness exercises to mannerisms to tool names, with a twist. The grid for June 18 not only takes players on a journey through terms that indicate a short pause but also tests their knowledge of different types of exercises. Most importantly, the purple group has a twist that will keep players engaged.
Themes are mingling so closely that they actually confuse, and a few words are also roaming around the categories before settling into the right groups. This scenario makes today's NYT Connections not only clever but also very satisfying for puzzle lovers, from novices to experts.
NYT Connections tasks players with sorting 16 words into four hidden groups. Each group contains four terms linked by meaning or theme. Colors reveal difficulty: yellow for simple categories, green for moderate themes, blue for challenging cultural references, and purple for the most complex wordplay or niche topics. Mistakes are limited, which keeps the challenge tight and engaging. This format explains why Connections remains one of the most popular daily word games today.
BOOTCAMP, PILATES, CARRIAGE, PRESENCE, AEROBICS, TUTU, HAMM, JIGS, PLIE, ATTITUDE, BEARING, WREN, GANDHI, KING, MANDELA, BARRE
Yellow Group: Think of terms that are associated with physical exercises.
Green Group: Find words that indicate someone’s mannerisms.
Blue Group: Are you interested in history? You will immediately identify these characters.
Purple Group: Try to find out different tools, but there’s a catch.
Groups One-Word Hint for Each Group
AEROBICS
BEARING
MANDELA
WREN
Yellow Group (FITNESS CLASS TYPES): AEROBICS, BARRE, BOOTCAMP, PILATES
Green Group (DEMEANOR): ATTITUDE, BEARING, CARRIAGE, PRESENCE
Blue Group (PEACE ACTIVISTS): GANDHI, KING, MANDELA, TUTU
Purple Group (TOOLS MINUS LAST TWO LETTERS): HAMM, JIGS, PLIE, WREN
If you have solved today’s puzzle but missed out on a few of the week’s, below are the answers to some of the previous day's NYT Connections:
| Date | Puzzle # | Yellow Group | Green Group | Blue Group | Purple Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2026 | #1102 | CAVITY, NICHE, NOOK, RECESS | CHEEK, LIP, MOUTH, NERVE | CALLIOPE, ECHO, IRIS, NEMESIS | CLASSIC, KINDLE, SORTIE, TYPEFACE |
| June 16, 2026 | #1101 | BLUE CHEESE, CAESAR, GREEN GODDESS, RANCH | COURT, ENTOURAGE, RETINUE, SUITE | BLACK SWAN, BLUE MOON, PERFECT STORM, UNICORN | BASKETBALL, EARRINGS, RED TAPE, RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS GEAR |
| June 15, 2026 | #1100 | LEGS, MOMENTUM, STAMINA, TRACTION | ACCESSORIZE, CHANGE, PRIMP, SHOWER | DOG, DRAGON, HORSE, SNAKE | ANEMONE, LARKSPUR, MONKSHOOD, PHLOX |
| June 14, 2026 | #1099 | GLOBE, GRINDSTONE, GYROSCOPE, ROULETTE WHEEL | BANANA PEEL, CREAM PIE, RUBBER CHICKEN, SELTZER BOTTLE | CATERPILLAR, POCKET WATCH, RABBIT HOLE, TEA PARTY | MASSACHUSETTS, MASTER OF ARTS, MILLIAMPERE, MOTHER |
| June 13, 2026 | #1098 | SAUCER, SPOON, TEACUP, TONGS | CLASSIC, HIT, OLDIE, STANDARD | MAKEUP, MINIATURE, PROSTHETIC, PUPPET | CHRISTMAS, NEVERENDING, TOY, WEST SIDE |
| June 12, 2026 | #1097 | CHARM BRACELET, CURSE WORD, HEX KEY, SPELL CHECKER | MURDER MYSTERY, PACK RAT, PRIDE ROCK, SCHOOL DAYS | COPY EDITOR, ECHO PARK, MIRROR SELFIE, QUOTE UNQUOTE | BANK TELLER, BED HEAD, DELTA AIRLINES, MOUTH GUARD |
| June 11, 2026 | #1096 | BALANCE, CARDIO, STRETCHING, WEIGHTS | BRASS BAND, DEVIL, RHINO, VIKING HELMET | BRONCHO, FORERUNNER, TROUPER, UCONN | ELLE, PAPAL, STRIP, VENO |
The June 18 edition of NYT Connections strikes a clean balance between exercises and historical characters. The guessing process won’t be complicated for today’s grid, but players will need keen observation skills.
The layout is easier than the previous puzzles presented this month, but the combination of themes still maintains the fun factor. It’s an attractive, neat grid that merges simplicity with allure.