NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Tuesday, April 14, 2026 (Puzzle #1038)
Written by Ranjit Kumar — Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect
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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — April 14, 2026 (Puzzle #1038)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Tuesday, April 14, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER: BOOKMARK, CACHE, COOKIE, HISTORY
- 🟩 Green – BOXING TERMS: BELL, GLOVES, RING, ROUND
- 🟦 Blue – TILT: LEAN, LIST, PITCH, TIP
- 🟪 Purple – FREE___: LANCE, MASON, STYLE, WAY
Want to try solving it yourself first? Scroll down for progressive spoiler-free hints before seeing the full breakdown.
Welcome to today's NYT Connections hints and answers guide for Tuesday, April 14, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1038, you're in the right place. We'll start with spoiler-free progressive hints so you can try to figure it out on your own, then reveal the full Connections answers for today with a detailed explanation of each group.
📌 Key Takeaways — Puzzle #1038
- Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1038
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — FREE___
- Easiest Category: Yellow — THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER
📖 In This Guide
- Tap-to-Reveal Word Hints (Interactive Grid)
- Spoiler-Free Category Hints
- Progressive Category Reveal
- Traps & Misdirects
- One-Word Hints for Each Group
- Two-Away Hints (Almost There)
- Full Answers & Solution Revealed
- Per-Word Explanations & Definitions
- Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
- How to Play NYT Connections
- FAQ
🔮 Connections Hint for Each Word Today — April 14, 2026
Tap any word to see its Connections hint — what it means in today's puzzle, no spoilers. Uncover all 16 to fill the progress bar.
COOKIE Connections Hint Today
COOKIE belongs to the Yellow group ("THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
Definition: COOKIE is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While COOKIE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
PITCH Connections Hint Today
PITCH belongs to the Blue group ("TILT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "TILT".
Definition: PITCH is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While PITCH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
HISTORY Connections Hint Today
HISTORY belongs to the Yellow group ("THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
Definition: HISTORY is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While HISTORY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
CACHE Connections Hint Today
CACHE belongs to the Yellow group ("THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
Definition: CACHE is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While CACHE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
LANCE Connections Hint Today
LANCE belongs to the Purple group ("FREE___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "FREE___".
Definition: LANCE is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While LANCE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
RING Connections Hint Today
RING belongs to the Green group ("BOXING TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BOXING TERMS".
Definition: RING is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While RING has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
MASON Connections Hint Today
MASON belongs to the Purple group ("FREE___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "FREE___".
Definition: MASON is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While MASON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
WAY Connections Hint Today
WAY belongs to the Purple group ("FREE___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "FREE___".
Definition: WAY is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While WAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
LIST Connections Hint Today
LIST belongs to the Blue group ("TILT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "TILT".
Definition: LIST is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While LIST has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
STYLE Connections Hint Today
STYLE belongs to the Purple group ("FREE___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "FREE___".
Definition: STYLE is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While STYLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
GLOVES Connections Hint Today
GLOVES belongs to the Green group ("BOXING TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BOXING TERMS".
Definition: GLOVES is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While GLOVES has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
TIP Connections Hint Today
TIP belongs to the Blue group ("TILT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "TILT".
Definition: TIP is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While TIP has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
LEAN Connections Hint Today
LEAN belongs to the Blue group ("TILT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "TILT".
Definition: LEAN is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While LEAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
BOOKMARK Connections Hint Today
BOOKMARK belongs to the Yellow group ("THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
Definition: BOOKMARK is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While BOOKMARK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
BELL Connections Hint Today
BELL belongs to the Green group ("BOXING TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BOXING TERMS".
Definition: BELL is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While BELL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
ROUND Connections Hint Today
ROUND belongs to the Green group ("BOXING TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BOXING TERMS".
Definition: ROUND is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While ROUND has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
COOKIE belongs to the Yellow group ("THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections April 14, 2026
Not ready for the full answer? Try these progressive hints for today's Connections puzzle. We start vague and get more specific.
🟨 Yellow Group Hint
Theme Hint: This is the easiest category. Think about what connects the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: This is a medium-difficulty category. Think about what connects the concept of "BOXING TERMS" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: This is a tricky category. Think about what connects the concept of "TILT" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: This is the hardest category. Think about what connects the concept of "FREE___" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
This is the easiest category. Think about what connects the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
Green Connections Hint Today
This is a medium-difficulty category. Think about what connects the concept of "BOXING TERMS" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
Blue Connections Hint Today
This is a tricky category. Think about what connects the concept of "TILT" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
Purple Connections Hint Today
This is the hardest category. Think about what connects the concept of "FREE___" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.
⚠️ Traps & Misdirects in Today's Connections
Today's puzzle includes words intentionally placed to misdirect you. These trap hints reveal which words are designed to mislead, so you don't burn your 4 allowed mistakes on deliberate decoys.
Words like BOOKMARK and BELL might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BOOKMARK is part of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" while BELL belongs to "BOXING TERMS". Don't group them together.
Words like BOOKMARK and LEAN might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BOOKMARK is part of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" while LEAN belongs to "TILT". Don't group them together.
Words like BOOKMARK and LANCE might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BOOKMARK is part of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" while LANCE belongs to "FREE___". Don't group them together.
🔑 One-Word Hints for Each Group
Still need a nudge? Here's one word that describes each group's theme:
🟨 Yellow
THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER
🟩 Green
BOXING TERMS
🟦 Blue
TILT
🟪 Purple
FREE___
🔥 Two-Away Hints — Almost the Full Answer
Last chance before the full reveal. Here are two members of each group:
| Group | Two Revealed Words | Can You Find the Other Two? |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | BOOKMARK, CACHE | What other words fit the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | BELL, GLOVES | What other words fit the "BOXING TERMS" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | LEAN, LIST | What other words fit the "TILT" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | LANCE, MASON | What other words fit the "FREE___" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, April 14, 2026 (Puzzle #1038)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Puzzle #1038 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER
🟩 Green — BOXING TERMS
🟦 Blue — TILT
🟪 Purple — FREE___
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1038 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER
The easiest category is "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BOOKMARK
BOOKMARK is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While BOOKMARK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
CACHE
CACHE is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While CACHE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
COOKIE
COOKIE is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While COOKIE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
HISTORY
HISTORY is one of the four words in the "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" category. While HISTORY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER".
🟩 Green (Medium) — BOXING TERMS
The medium category is "BOXING TERMS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BELL
BELL is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While BELL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
GLOVES
GLOVES is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While GLOVES has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
RING
RING is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While RING has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
ROUND
ROUND is one of the four words in the "BOXING TERMS" category. While ROUND has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BOXING TERMS".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — TILT
The hard category is "TILT". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
LEAN
LEAN is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While LEAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
LIST
LIST is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While LIST has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
PITCH
PITCH is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While PITCH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
TIP
TIP is one of the four words in the "TILT" category. While TIP has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "TILT".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — FREE___
The hardest category is "FREE___". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
LANCE
LANCE is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While LANCE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
MASON
MASON is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While MASON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
STYLE
STYLE is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While STYLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
WAY
WAY is one of the four words in the "FREE___" category. While WAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "FREE___".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — BOXING TERMS | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — TILT | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — FREE___ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎮 How to Play NYT Connections
New to the game? Here's a quick guide:
1️⃣
Study the 16 Words
Find four groups of four related words in the 4×4 grid.
2️⃣
Select & Submit
Tap four words you think belong together and hit "Submit."
3️⃣
4 Mistakes Max
Wrong guesses cost a life. After 4 mistakes, the game ends.
4️⃣
Solve All Four
Yellow = easiest, Purple = hardest. Solve all four to win!
🗞️ What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game created by Wyna Liu and published by The New York Times. Launched in mid-2023, it has become one of the most popular word games online alongside Wordle. Each puzzle presents 16 words that must be organized into four groups of four sharing a common theme.
- 🟨 Yellow — Easiest (straightforward connections)
- 🟩 Green — Medium difficulty
- 🟦 Blue — Hard (tricky connections or wordplay)
- 🟪 Purple — Hardest (often abstract, suffix/prefix patterns, or obscure links)
📅 Yesterday's Answers — Puzzle #1145
- 🟨 Virtuous: FAIR, GOOD, JUST, RIGHT
- 🟩 Activities With Multiple Balls: BEER PONG, BINGO, JUGGLING, POOL
- 🟦 Cruise Lines: CARNIVAL, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, VIKING
- 🟪 On the ___, To Mean "Precise": DOT, MARK, MONEY, NOSE
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Connections April 14, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1038 (April 14, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER): BOOKMARK, CACHE, COOKIE, HISTORY | 🟩 Green (BOXING TERMS): BELL, GLOVES, RING, ROUND | 🟦 Blue (TILT): LEAN, LIST, PITCH, TIP | 🟪 Purple (FREE___): LANCE, MASON, STYLE, WAY.
The yellow category in today's Connections (April 14, 2026) is "THINGS STORED BY A BROWSER" and the four answers are BOOKMARK, CACHE, COOKIE, HISTORY.
The purple category in today's Connections (April 14, 2026) is "FREE___" and the answers are LANCE, MASON, STYLE, WAY.
A new NYT Connections puzzle is released every day at midnight Eastern Time (ET). That's 9:00 PM Pacific, 5:00 AM BST, or 2:00 PM AEST. Bookmark this page for daily hints!
You are allowed up to 4 mistakes. After 4 incorrect guesses, the game ends and all remaining answers are revealed. Start with Yellow (easiest) to minimize errors.
The colors indicate difficulty: 🟨 Yellow is the easiest, 🟩 Green is moderate, 🟦 Blue is tricky, and 🟪 Purple is the hardest (often involving wordplay or abstract connections).
Yes! NYT Connections is free to play daily on The New York Times website and app. No subscription is required. You can also play unlimited sports-themed puzzles for free at ConnectionsSports.com.
As of April 14, 2026, there have been 1,038 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1038
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1039 — we'll have fresh hints and answers waiting for you right here!
Questions or feedback? Contact Ranjit Kumar — puzzle architect and creator of ConnectionsSports.com.
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