NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Saturday, April 18, 2026 (Puzzle #1042)
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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — April 18, 2026 (Puzzle #1042)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Saturday, April 18, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – LOOK AT WITH AWE: GOGGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER
- 🟩 Green – BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS: AC, DC, POWER, VOLTAGE
- 🟦 Blue – UNEXPECTED WINNER: DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER, UNDERDOG
- 🟪 Purple – STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS: CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCADE, PEPSINOGEN
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 Saturday, April 18, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1042, 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 #1042
- Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1042
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS
- Easiest Category: Yellow — LOOK AT WITH AWE
📖 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 18, 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.
LONG SHOT Connections Hint Today
LONG SHOT belongs to the Blue group ("UNEXPECTED WINNER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
Definition: LONG SHOT is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While LONG SHOT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
GOGGLE Connections Hint Today
GOGGLE belongs to the Yellow group ("LOOK AT WITH AWE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
Definition: GOGGLE is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While GOGGLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
UNDERDOG Connections Hint Today
UNDERDOG belongs to the Blue group ("UNEXPECTED WINNER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
Definition: UNDERDOG is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While UNDERDOG has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
SLEEPER Connections Hint Today
SLEEPER belongs to the Blue group ("UNEXPECTED WINNER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
Definition: SLEEPER is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While SLEEPER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
STARE Connections Hint Today
STARE belongs to the Yellow group ("LOOK AT WITH AWE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
Definition: STARE is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While STARE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
POWER Connections Hint Today
POWER belongs to the Green group ("BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
Definition: POWER is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While POWER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
DARK HORSE Connections Hint Today
DARK HORSE belongs to the Blue group ("UNEXPECTED WINNER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
Definition: DARK HORSE is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While DARK HORSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
MARVEL Connections Hint Today
MARVEL belongs to the Yellow group ("LOOK AT WITH AWE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
Definition: MARVEL is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While MARVEL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
DC Connections Hint Today
DC belongs to the Green group ("BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
Definition: DC is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While DC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
AC Connections Hint Today
AC belongs to the Green group ("BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
Definition: AC is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While AC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
WONDER Connections Hint Today
WONDER belongs to the Yellow group ("LOOK AT WITH AWE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
Definition: WONDER is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While WONDER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
FANTAGRAPHICS Connections Hint Today
FANTAGRAPHICS belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
Definition: FANTAGRAPHICS is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While FANTAGRAPHICS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
VOLTAGE Connections Hint Today
VOLTAGE belongs to the Green group ("BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
Definition: VOLTAGE is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While VOLTAGE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
PEPSINOGEN Connections Hint Today
PEPSINOGEN belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
Definition: PEPSINOGEN is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While PEPSINOGEN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
FRESCADE Connections Hint Today
FRESCADE belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
Definition: FRESCADE is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While FRESCADE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
CRUSHWORTHY Connections Hint Today
CRUSHWORTHY belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
Definition: CRUSHWORTHY is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While CRUSHWORTHY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
LONG SHOT belongs to the Blue group ("UNEXPECTED WINNER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections April 18, 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 "LOOK AT WITH AWE" — 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 "BASIC ELECTRICITY 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 "UNEXPECTED WINNER" — 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 "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" — 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 "LOOK AT WITH AWE" — 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 "BASIC ELECTRICITY 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 "UNEXPECTED WINNER" — 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 "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" — 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 GOGGLE and AC might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. GOGGLE is part of "LOOK AT WITH AWE" while AC belongs to "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS". Don't group them together.
Words like GOGGLE and DARK HORSE might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. GOGGLE is part of "LOOK AT WITH AWE" while DARK HORSE belongs to "UNEXPECTED WINNER". Don't group them together.
Words like GOGGLE and CRUSHWORTHY might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. GOGGLE is part of "LOOK AT WITH AWE" while CRUSHWORTHY belongs to "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS". 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
LOOK AT WITH AWE
🟩 Green
BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS
🟦 Blue
UNEXPECTED WINNER
🟪 Purple
STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS
🔥 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 | GOGGLE, MARVEL | What other words fit the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | AC, DC | What other words fit the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT | What other words fit the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS | What other words fit the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, April 18, 2026 (Puzzle #1042)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Puzzle #1042 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — LOOK AT WITH AWE
🟩 Green — BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS
🟦 Blue — UNEXPECTED WINNER
🟪 Purple — STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1042 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — LOOK AT WITH AWE
The easiest category is "LOOK AT WITH AWE". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
GOGGLE
GOGGLE is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While GOGGLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
MARVEL
MARVEL is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While MARVEL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
STARE
STARE is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While STARE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
WONDER
WONDER is one of the four words in the "LOOK AT WITH AWE" category. While WONDER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "LOOK AT WITH AWE".
🟩 Green (Medium) — BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS
The medium category is "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
AC
AC is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While AC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
DC
DC is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While DC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
POWER
POWER is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While POWER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
VOLTAGE
VOLTAGE is one of the four words in the "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS" category. While VOLTAGE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — UNEXPECTED WINNER
The hard category is "UNEXPECTED WINNER". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
DARK HORSE
DARK HORSE is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While DARK HORSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
LONG SHOT
LONG SHOT is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While LONG SHOT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
SLEEPER
SLEEPER is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While SLEEPER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
UNDERDOG
UNDERDOG is one of the four words in the "UNEXPECTED WINNER" category. While UNDERDOG has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "UNEXPECTED WINNER".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS
The hardest category is "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CRUSHWORTHY
CRUSHWORTHY is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While CRUSHWORTHY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
FANTAGRAPHICS
FANTAGRAPHICS is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While FANTAGRAPHICS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
FRESCADE
FRESCADE is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While FRESCADE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
PEPSINOGEN
PEPSINOGEN is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" category. While PEPSINOGEN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — LOOK AT WITH AWE | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — UNEXPECTED WINNER | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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 #1144
- 🟨 FASTENERS: NAIL, RIVET, SCREW, STAPLE
- 🟩 NONDESCRIPT: BASIC, MID, PLAIN, VANILLA
- 🟦 UNITS OF WISDOM: GEM, NUGGET, PEARL, WORD
- 🟪 ____BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM: BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Connections April 18, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1042 (April 18, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (LOOK AT WITH AWE): GOGGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER | 🟩 Green (BASIC ELECTRICITY TERMS): AC, DC, POWER, VOLTAGE | 🟦 Blue (UNEXPECTED WINNER): DARK HORSE, LONG SHOT, SLEEPER, UNDERDOG | 🟪 Purple (STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS): CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCADE, PEPSINOGEN.
The yellow category in today's Connections (April 18, 2026) is "LOOK AT WITH AWE" and the four answers are GOGGLE, MARVEL, STARE, WONDER.
The purple category in today's Connections (April 18, 2026) is "STARTING WITH SODA BRANDS" and the answers are CRUSHWORTHY, FANTAGRAPHICS, FRESCADE, PEPSINOGEN.
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 18, 2026, there have been 1,042 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1042
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1043 — 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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