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NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Thursday, June 18, 2026 (Puzzle #1103)

Written by Ranjit Kumar — Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect

Ranjit is a lifelong puzzle enthusiast and the creator of ConnectionsSports.com. He has analyzed 1,000+ Connections puzzles and helps thousands of daily players master the game.

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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — June 18, 2026 (Puzzle #1103)

Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Thursday, June 18, 2026:

  • 🟨 Yellow – Fitness class types: AEROBICS, BARRE, BOOTCAMP, PILATES
  • 🟩 Green – Demeanor: ATTITUDE, BEARING, CARRIAGE, PRESENCE
  • 🟦 Blue – Peace activists: GANDHI, KING, MANDELA, TUTU
  • 🟪 Purple – Tools minus last two letters: HAMM, JIGS, PLIE, WREN

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 Thursday, June 18, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1103, 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 #1103

  • Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
  • Puzzle Number: #1103
  • Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
  • Trickiest Category: Purple — Tools minus last two letters
  • Easiest Category: Yellow — Fitness class types

🔮 Connections Hint for Each Word Today — June 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.

MANDELA

MANDELA Connections Hint Today

MANDELA belongs to the Blue group ("Peace activists"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Peace activists".

Definition: MANDELA is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While MANDELA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

BOOTCAMP

BOOTCAMP Connections Hint Today

BOOTCAMP belongs to the Yellow group ("Fitness class types"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Fitness class types".

Definition: BOOTCAMP is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While BOOTCAMP has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

GANDHI

GANDHI Connections Hint Today

GANDHI belongs to the Blue group ("Peace activists"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Peace activists".

Definition: GANDHI is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While GANDHI has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

PLIE

PLIE Connections Hint Today

PLIE belongs to the Purple group ("Tools minus last two letters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tools minus last two letters".

Definition: PLIE is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While PLIE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

PILATES

PILATES Connections Hint Today

PILATES belongs to the Yellow group ("Fitness class types"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Fitness class types".

Definition: PILATES is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While PILATES has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

WREN

WREN Connections Hint Today

WREN belongs to the Purple group ("Tools minus last two letters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tools minus last two letters".

Definition: WREN is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While WREN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

CARRIAGE

CARRIAGE Connections Hint Today

CARRIAGE belongs to the Green group ("Demeanor"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Demeanor".

Definition: CARRIAGE is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While CARRIAGE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

HAMM

HAMM Connections Hint Today

HAMM belongs to the Purple group ("Tools minus last two letters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tools minus last two letters".

Definition: HAMM is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While HAMM has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

PRESENCE

PRESENCE Connections Hint Today

PRESENCE belongs to the Green group ("Demeanor"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Demeanor".

Definition: PRESENCE is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While PRESENCE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

BEARING

BEARING Connections Hint Today

BEARING belongs to the Green group ("Demeanor"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Demeanor".

Definition: BEARING is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While BEARING has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

KING

KING Connections Hint Today

KING belongs to the Blue group ("Peace activists"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Peace activists".

Definition: KING is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While KING has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

JIGS

JIGS Connections Hint Today

JIGS belongs to the Purple group ("Tools minus last two letters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tools minus last two letters".

Definition: JIGS is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While JIGS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

AEROBICS

AEROBICS Connections Hint Today

AEROBICS belongs to the Yellow group ("Fitness class types"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Fitness class types".

Definition: AEROBICS is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While AEROBICS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

TUTU

TUTU Connections Hint Today

TUTU belongs to the Blue group ("Peace activists"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Peace activists".

Definition: TUTU is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While TUTU has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

ATTITUDE

ATTITUDE Connections Hint Today

ATTITUDE belongs to the Green group ("Demeanor"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Demeanor".

Definition: ATTITUDE is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While ATTITUDE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

BARRE

BARRE Connections Hint Today

BARRE belongs to the Yellow group ("Fitness class types"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Fitness class types".

Definition: BARRE is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While BARRE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

MANDELA CONNECTIONS HINT

MANDELA belongs to the Blue group ("Peace activists"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Peace activists".

💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections June 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 "Fitness class types" — 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 "Demeanor" — 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 "Peace activists" — 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 "Tools minus last two letters" — 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.

  1. Yellow Connections Hint Today

    This is the easiest category. Think about what connects the concept of "Fitness class types" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.

  2. Green Connections Hint Today

    This is a medium-difficulty category. Think about what connects the concept of "Demeanor" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.

  3. Blue Connections Hint Today

    This is a tricky category. Think about what connects the concept of "Peace activists" — the answer involves words that all relate to this theme.

  4. Purple Connections Hint Today

    This is the hardest category. Think about what connects the concept of "Tools minus last two letters" — 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.

AEROBICS, BARRE, ATTITUDE, BEARING

Words like AEROBICS and ATTITUDE might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. AEROBICS is part of "Fitness class types" while ATTITUDE belongs to "Demeanor". Don't group them together.

AEROBICS, BARRE, GANDHI, KING

Words like AEROBICS and GANDHI might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. AEROBICS is part of "Fitness class types" while GANDHI belongs to "Peace activists". Don't group them together.

AEROBICS, BARRE, HAMM, JIGS

Words like AEROBICS and HAMM might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. AEROBICS is part of "Fitness class types" while HAMM belongs to "Tools minus last two letters". 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

FITNESS CLASS TYPES

🟩 Green

DEMEANOR

🟦 Blue

PEACE ACTIVISTS

🟪 Purple

TOOLS MINUS LAST TWO LETTERS

🔥 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 AEROBICS, BARRE What other words fit the "Fitness class types" theme?
🟩 Green ATTITUDE, BEARING What other words fit the "Demeanor" theme?
🟦 Blue GANDHI, KING What other words fit the "Peace activists" theme?
🟪 Purple HAMM, JIGS What other words fit the "Tools minus last two letters" theme?

✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, June 18, 2026 (Puzzle #1103)

Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Thursday, June 18, 2026. Puzzle #1103 is fully solved below.

🟨 Yellow — Fitness class types

AEROBICSBARREBOOTCAMPPILATES

🟩 Green — Demeanor

ATTITUDEBEARINGCARRIAGEPRESENCE

🟦 Blue — Peace activists

GANDHIKINGMANDELATUTU

🟪 Purple — Tools minus last two letters

HAMMJIGSPLIEWREN

🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined

Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1103 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.

🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — Fitness class types

The easiest category is "Fitness class types". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:

AEROBICS

AEROBICS is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While AEROBICS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

BARRE

BARRE is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While BARRE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

BOOTCAMP

BOOTCAMP is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While BOOTCAMP has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

PILATES

PILATES is one of the four words in the "Fitness class types" category. While PILATES has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Fitness class types".

🟩 Green (Medium) — Demeanor

The medium category is "Demeanor". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:

ATTITUDE

ATTITUDE is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While ATTITUDE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

BEARING

BEARING is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While BEARING has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

CARRIAGE

CARRIAGE is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While CARRIAGE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

PRESENCE

PRESENCE is one of the four words in the "Demeanor" category. While PRESENCE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Demeanor".

🟦 Blue (Hard) — Peace activists

The hard category is "Peace activists". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:

GANDHI

GANDHI is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While GANDHI has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

KING

KING is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While KING has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

MANDELA

MANDELA is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While MANDELA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

TUTU

TUTU is one of the four words in the "Peace activists" category. While TUTU has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Peace activists".

🟪 Purple (Hardest) — Tools minus last two letters

The hardest category is "Tools minus last two letters". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:

HAMM

HAMM is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While HAMM has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

JIGS

JIGS is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While JIGS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

PLIE

PLIE is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While PLIE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

WREN

WREN is one of the four words in the "Tools minus last two letters" category. While WREN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tools minus last two letters".

📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips

Group Difficulty Solve Order
🟨 Yellow — Fitness class types ⭐ Easy Solve FIRST — the easiest category
🟩 Green — Demeanor ⭐⭐ Medium Solve SECOND
🟦 Blue — Peace activists ⭐⭐⭐ Hard Solve THIRD
🟪 Purple — Tools minus last two letters ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Connections June 18, 2026

The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1103 (June 18, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (Fitness class types): AEROBICS, BARRE, BOOTCAMP, PILATES | 🟩 Green (Demeanor): ATTITUDE, BEARING, CARRIAGE, PRESENCE | 🟦 Blue (Peace activists): GANDHI, KING, MANDELA, TUTU | 🟪 Purple (Tools minus last two letters): HAMM, JIGS, PLIE, WREN.

The yellow category in today's Connections (June 18, 2026) is "Fitness class types" and the four answers are AEROBICS, BARRE, BOOTCAMP, PILATES.

The purple category in today's Connections (June 18, 2026) is "Tools minus last two letters" and the answers are HAMM, JIGS, PLIE, WREN.

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 June 18, 2026, there have been 1,103 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.

🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1103

Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1104 — 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.

Ranjit Kumar

Ranjit Kumar

Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect. Ranjit is a lifelong puzzle enthusiast who has analyzed 1,000+ Connections puzzles and helps thousands of daily players master the game.