Skip to content

NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Monday, April 27, 2026 (Puzzle #1051)

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.

Last Updated: | Fact-Checked: ✅ Verified | ✉️ Contact the Author

🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — April 27, 2026 (Puzzle #1051)

Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Monday, April 27, 2026:

  • 🟨 Yellow – Salad ingredients: RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, ROASTED CHICKEN, ROMAINE LETTUCE
  • 🟩 Green – Classic films: RAIN MAN, REAR WINDOW, RESERVOIR DOGS, ROMAN HOLIDAY
  • 🟦 Blue – "The Simpsons" characters: RADIOACTIVE MAN, RALPH WIGGUM, REVEREND LOVEJOY, ROD FLANDERS
  • 🟪 Purple – Ending in NBA players: RAGING BULL, REGINA KING, ROE BUCK, ROTARY CLIPPER

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 Monday, April 27, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1051, 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 #1051

  • Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
  • Puzzle Number: #1051
  • Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
  • Trickiest Category: Purple — Ending in NBA players
  • Easiest Category: Yellow — Salad ingredients

🔮 Connections Hint for Each Word Today — April 27, 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.

RESERVOIR DOGS

RESERVOIR DOGS Connections Hint Today

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

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

REAR WINDOW

REAR WINDOW Connections Hint Today

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

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

RAGING BULL

RAGING BULL Connections Hint Today

RAGING BULL belongs to the Purple group ("Ending in NBA players"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Ending in NBA players".

Definition: RAGING BULL is one of the four words in the "Ending in NBA players" category. While RAGING BULL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Ending in NBA players".

ROE BUCK

ROE BUCK Connections Hint Today

ROE BUCK belongs to the Purple group ("Ending in NBA players"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Ending in NBA players".

Definition: ROE BUCK is one of the four words in the "Ending in NBA players" category. While ROE BUCK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Ending in NBA players".

REVEREND LOVEJOY

REVEREND LOVEJOY Connections Hint Today

REVEREND LOVEJOY belongs to the Blue group (""The Simpsons" characters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of ""The Simpsons" characters".

Definition: REVEREND LOVEJOY is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While REVEREND LOVEJOY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

RAIN MAN

RAIN MAN Connections Hint Today

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

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

RANCH DRESSING

RANCH DRESSING Connections Hint Today

RANCH DRESSING belongs to the Yellow group ("Salad ingredients"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Salad ingredients".

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

REGINA KING

REGINA KING Connections Hint Today

REGINA KING belongs to the Purple group ("Ending in NBA players"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Ending in NBA players".

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

ROMAN HOLIDAY

ROMAN HOLIDAY Connections Hint Today

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

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

ROTARY CLIPPER

ROTARY CLIPPER Connections Hint Today

ROTARY CLIPPER belongs to the Purple group ("Ending in NBA players"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Ending in NBA players".

Definition: ROTARY CLIPPER is one of the four words in the "Ending in NBA players" category. While ROTARY CLIPPER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Ending in NBA players".

RALPH WIGGUM

RALPH WIGGUM Connections Hint Today

RALPH WIGGUM belongs to the Blue group (""The Simpsons" characters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of ""The Simpsons" characters".

Definition: RALPH WIGGUM is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While RALPH WIGGUM has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

ROMAINE LETTUCE

ROMAINE LETTUCE Connections Hint Today

ROMAINE LETTUCE belongs to the Yellow group ("Salad ingredients"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Salad ingredients".

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

RADIOACTIVE MAN

RADIOACTIVE MAN Connections Hint Today

RADIOACTIVE MAN belongs to the Blue group (""The Simpsons" characters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of ""The Simpsons" characters".

Definition: RADIOACTIVE MAN is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While RADIOACTIVE MAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

ROD FLANDERS

ROD FLANDERS Connections Hint Today

ROD FLANDERS belongs to the Blue group (""The Simpsons" characters"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of ""The Simpsons" characters".

Definition: ROD FLANDERS is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While ROD FLANDERS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

RED ONION

RED ONION Connections Hint Today

RED ONION belongs to the Yellow group ("Salad ingredients"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Salad ingredients".

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

ROASTED CHICKEN

ROASTED CHICKEN Connections Hint Today

ROASTED CHICKEN belongs to the Yellow group ("Salad ingredients"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Salad ingredients".

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

RESERVOIR DOGS CONNECTIONS HINT

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

💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections April 27, 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 "Salad ingredients" — 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 "Classic films" — 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 ""The Simpsons" characters" — 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 "Ending in NBA players" — 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 "Salad ingredients" — 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 "Classic films" — 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 ""The Simpsons" characters" — 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 "Ending in NBA players" — 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.

RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, RAIN MAN, REAR WINDOW

Words like RANCH DRESSING and RAIN MAN might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. RANCH DRESSING is part of "Salad ingredients" while RAIN MAN belongs to "Classic films". Don't group them together.

RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, RADIOACTIVE MAN, RALPH WIGGUM

Words like RANCH DRESSING and RADIOACTIVE MAN might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. RANCH DRESSING is part of "Salad ingredients" while RADIOACTIVE MAN belongs to ""The Simpsons" characters". Don't group them together.

RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, RAGING BULL, REGINA KING

Words like RANCH DRESSING and RAGING BULL might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. RANCH DRESSING is part of "Salad ingredients" while RAGING BULL belongs to "Ending in NBA players". 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

SALAD INGREDIENTS

🟩 Green

CLASSIC FILMS

🟦 Blue

"THE SIMPSONS" CHARACTERS

🟪 Purple

ENDING IN NBA PLAYERS

🔥 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 RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION What other words fit the "Salad ingredients" theme?
🟩 Green RAIN MAN, REAR WINDOW What other words fit the "Classic films" theme?
🟦 Blue RADIOACTIVE MAN, RALPH WIGGUM What other words fit the ""The Simpsons" characters" theme?
🟪 Purple RAGING BULL, REGINA KING What other words fit the "Ending in NBA players" theme?

✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, April 27, 2026 (Puzzle #1051)

Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Monday, April 27, 2026. Puzzle #1051 is fully solved below.

🟨 Yellow — Salad ingredients

RANCH DRESSINGRED ONIONROASTED CHICKENROMAINE LETTUCE

🟩 Green — Classic films

RAIN MANREAR WINDOWRESERVOIR DOGSROMAN HOLIDAY

🟦 Blue — "The Simpsons" characters

RADIOACTIVE MANRALPH WIGGUMREVEREND LOVEJOYROD FLANDERS

🟪 Purple — Ending in NBA players

RAGING BULLREGINA KINGROE BUCKROTARY CLIPPER

🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined

Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1051 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.

🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — Salad ingredients

The easiest category is "Salad ingredients". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:

RANCH DRESSING

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

RED ONION

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

ROASTED CHICKEN

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

ROMAINE LETTUCE

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

🟩 Green (Medium) — Classic films

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

RAIN MAN

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

REAR WINDOW

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

RESERVOIR DOGS

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

ROMAN HOLIDAY

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

🟦 Blue (Hard) — "The Simpsons" characters

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

RADIOACTIVE MAN

RADIOACTIVE MAN is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While RADIOACTIVE MAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

RALPH WIGGUM

RALPH WIGGUM is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While RALPH WIGGUM has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

REVEREND LOVEJOY

REVEREND LOVEJOY is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While REVEREND LOVEJOY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

ROD FLANDERS

ROD FLANDERS is one of the four words in the ""The Simpsons" characters" category. While ROD FLANDERS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of ""The Simpsons" characters".

🟪 Purple (Hardest) — Ending in NBA players

The hardest category is "Ending in NBA players". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:

RAGING BULL

RAGING BULL is one of the four words in the "Ending in NBA players" category. While RAGING BULL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Ending in NBA players".

REGINA KING

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

ROE BUCK

ROE BUCK is one of the four words in the "Ending in NBA players" category. While ROE BUCK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Ending in NBA players".

ROTARY CLIPPER

ROTARY CLIPPER is one of the four words in the "Ending in NBA players" category. While ROTARY CLIPPER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Ending in NBA players".

📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips

Group Difficulty Solve Order
🟨 Yellow — Salad ingredients ⭐ Easy Solve FIRST — the easiest category
🟩 Green — Classic films ⭐⭐ Medium Solve SECOND
🟦 Blue — "The Simpsons" characters ⭐⭐⭐ Hard Solve THIRD
🟪 Purple — Ending in NBA players ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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 April 27, 2026

The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1051 (April 27, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (Salad ingredients): RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, ROASTED CHICKEN, ROMAINE LETTUCE | 🟩 Green (Classic films): RAIN MAN, REAR WINDOW, RESERVOIR DOGS, ROMAN HOLIDAY | 🟦 Blue ("The Simpsons" characters): RADIOACTIVE MAN, RALPH WIGGUM, REVEREND LOVEJOY, ROD FLANDERS | 🟪 Purple (Ending in NBA players): RAGING BULL, REGINA KING, ROE BUCK, ROTARY CLIPPER.

The yellow category in today's Connections (April 27, 2026) is "Salad ingredients" and the four answers are RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, ROASTED CHICKEN, ROMAINE LETTUCE.

The purple category in today's Connections (April 27, 2026) is "Ending in NBA players" and the answers are RAGING BULL, REGINA KING, ROE BUCK, ROTARY CLIPPER.

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 27, 2026, there have been 1,051 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.

🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1051

Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1052 — 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.