NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Monday, June 29, 2026 (Puzzle #1114)
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 — June 29, 2026 (Puzzle #1114)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Monday, June 29, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS: MISCREANT, ROGUE, RUFFIAN, SCOUNDREL
- 🟩 Green – CONSUME WITH GUSTO: CRUSH, GUZZLE, INHALE, SNARF
- 🟦 Blue – PARTS OF A SPEAKER: CABINET, CONE, MAGNET, WOOFER
- 🟪 Purple – ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE: EMBARK, GROOT, NUDIBRANCH, STRUNK
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, June 29, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1114, 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 #1114
- Date: Monday, June 29, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1114
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE
- Easiest Category: Yellow — OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS
- Red Herring Warning: MAGNET might tempt you to look for scientific equipment, physics terms, or office whiteboard supplies. Additionally, GROOT could trick comic book fans into hunting for a Marvel or superhero category before they realize its linguistic value to the tree wordplay.
📖 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 — June 29, 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.
STRUNK Connections Hint Today
STRUNK belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
Definition: STRUNK is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While STRUNK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
CRUSH Connections Hint Today
CRUSH belongs to the Green group ("CONSUME WITH GUSTO"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
Definition: CRUSH is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While CRUSH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
WOOFER Connections Hint Today
WOOFER belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF A SPEAKER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
Definition: WOOFER is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While WOOFER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
INHALE Connections Hint Today
INHALE belongs to the Green group ("CONSUME WITH GUSTO"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
Definition: INHALE is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While INHALE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
RUFFIAN Connections Hint Today
RUFFIAN belongs to the Yellow group ("OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
Definition: RUFFIAN is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While RUFFIAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
SNARF Connections Hint Today
SNARF belongs to the Green group ("CONSUME WITH GUSTO"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
Definition: SNARF is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While SNARF has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
MISCREANT Connections Hint Today
MISCREANT belongs to the Yellow group ("OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
Definition: MISCREANT is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While MISCREANT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
CONE Connections Hint Today
CONE belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF A SPEAKER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
Definition: CONE is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While CONE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
NUDIBRANCH Connections Hint Today
NUDIBRANCH belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
Definition: NUDIBRANCH is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While NUDIBRANCH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
MAGNET Connections Hint Today
MAGNET belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF A SPEAKER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
Definition: MAGNET is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While MAGNET has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
ROGUE Connections Hint Today
ROGUE belongs to the Yellow group ("OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
Definition: ROGUE is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While ROGUE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
EMBARK Connections Hint Today
EMBARK belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
Definition: EMBARK is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While EMBARK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
SCOUNDREL Connections Hint Today
SCOUNDREL belongs to the Yellow group ("OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
Definition: SCOUNDREL is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While SCOUNDREL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
GROOT Connections Hint Today
GROOT belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
Definition: GROOT is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While GROOT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
GUZZLE Connections Hint Today
GUZZLE belongs to the Green group ("CONSUME WITH GUSTO"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
Definition: GUZZLE is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While GUZZLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
CABINET Connections Hint Today
CABINET belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF A SPEAKER"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
Definition: CABINET is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While CABINET has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
STRUNK belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
⚠️ Red Herring Alert: MAGNET might tempt you to look for scientific equipment, physics terms, or office whiteboard supplies. Additionally, GROOT could trick comic book fans into hunting for a Marvel or superhero category before they realize its linguistic value to the tree wordplay.
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections June 29, 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: Playful or old-fashioned nouns used to describe a dishonest, mischievous, or law-breaking person.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: Slang terms and informal verbs that mean to eat or drink something incredibly quickly, eagerly, or aggressively.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: The internal hardware components, casing, and acoustic drivers that make up a standard audio loudspeaker setup.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: Look at the tail end of these words. Each one concludes with a sequence of letters that spells out a fundamental component of a tree (e.g., Bark, Root, Branch, Trunk).
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
Playful or old-fashioned nouns used to describe a dishonest, mischievous, or law-breaking person.
Green Connections Hint Today
Slang terms and informal verbs that mean to eat or drink something incredibly quickly, eagerly, or aggressively.
Blue Connections Hint Today
The internal hardware components, casing, and acoustic drivers that make up a standard audio loudspeaker setup.
Purple Connections Hint Today
Look at the tail end of these words. Each one concludes with a sequence of letters that spells out a fundamental component of a tree (e.g., Bark, Root, Branch, Trunk).
⚠️ 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.
MAGNET might tempt you to look for scientific equipment, physics terms, or office whiteboard supplies. Additionally, GROOT could trick comic book fans into hunting for a Marvel or superhero category before they realize its linguistic value to the tree wordplay.
Words like MISCREANT and CRUSH might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. MISCREANT is part of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" while CRUSH belongs to "CONSUME WITH GUSTO". Don't group them together.
Words like MISCREANT and CABINET might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. MISCREANT is part of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" while CABINET belongs to "PARTS OF A SPEAKER". Don't group them together.
Words like MISCREANT and EMBARK might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. MISCREANT is part of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" while EMBARK belongs to "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE". 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
OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS
🟩 Green
CONSUME WITH GUSTO
🟦 Blue
PARTS OF A SPEAKER
🟪 Purple
ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE
🔥 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 | MISCREANT, ROGUE | What other words fit the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | CRUSH, GUZZLE | What other words fit the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | CABINET, CONE | What other words fit the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | EMBARK, GROOT | What other words fit the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, June 29, 2026 (Puzzle #1114)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Monday, June 29, 2026. Puzzle #1114 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS
🟩 Green — CONSUME WITH GUSTO
🟦 Blue — PARTS OF A SPEAKER
🟪 Purple — ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1114 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS
The easiest category is "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
MISCREANT
MISCREANT is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While MISCREANT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
ROGUE
ROGUE is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While ROGUE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
RUFFIAN
RUFFIAN is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While RUFFIAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
SCOUNDREL
SCOUNDREL is one of the four words in the "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" category. While SCOUNDREL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS".
🟩 Green (Medium) — CONSUME WITH GUSTO
The medium category is "CONSUME WITH GUSTO". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CRUSH
CRUSH is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While CRUSH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
GUZZLE
GUZZLE is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While GUZZLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
INHALE
INHALE is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While INHALE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
SNARF
SNARF is one of the four words in the "CONSUME WITH GUSTO" category. While SNARF has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "CONSUME WITH GUSTO".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — PARTS OF A SPEAKER
The hard category is "PARTS OF A SPEAKER". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CABINET
CABINET is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While CABINET has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
CONE
CONE is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While CONE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
MAGNET
MAGNET is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While MAGNET has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
WOOFER
WOOFER is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF A SPEAKER" category. While WOOFER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF A SPEAKER".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE
The hardest category is "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
EMBARK
EMBARK is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While EMBARK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
GROOT
GROOT is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While GROOT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
NUDIBRANCH
NUDIBRANCH is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While NUDIBRANCH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
STRUNK
STRUNK is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" category. While STRUNK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — CONSUME WITH GUSTO | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — PARTS OF A SPEAKER | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎯 Pro Strategy for Puzzle #1114
Start by sweeping up the old-school scoundrel synonyms (Yellow) and the eating/drinking slang (Green) to thin out the board. Once the vocabulary is cleared, separating the audio equipment components from the creative tree suffix structures will lock in a perfect grid.
🎮 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 June 29, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1114 (June 29, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS): MISCREANT, ROGUE, RUFFIAN, SCOUNDREL | 🟩 Green (CONSUME WITH GUSTO): CRUSH, GUZZLE, INHALE, SNARF | 🟦 Blue (PARTS OF A SPEAKER): CABINET, CONE, MAGNET, WOOFER | 🟪 Purple (ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE): EMBARK, GROOT, NUDIBRANCH, STRUNK.
The yellow category in today's Connections (June 29, 2026) is "OLD TIMEY TROUBLEMAKERS" and the four answers are MISCREANT, ROGUE, RUFFIAN, SCOUNDREL.
The purple category in today's Connections (June 29, 2026) is "ENDING IN PARTS OF A TREE" and the answers are EMBARK, GROOT, NUDIBRANCH, STRUNK.
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 29, 2026, there have been 1,114 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1114
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1115 — 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.