NYT Connections Hint & Answer for Thursday, May 14, 2026

Welcome back, puzzle enthusiasts! If you’ve just opened today’s NYT Connections and are staring at a screen full of modern dating slang and cell phone settings, you aren't alone. Today's puzzle, curated by Wyna Liu, offers a fantastic blend of contemporary culture and some truly clever wordplay that might make you double-check your spelling.

Whether you're looking for a small nudge to keep your streak alive or you're ready to see the full solution, here is the breakdown for the NYT Connections answer for 2026-05-14.

Today's Difficulty and Hints

Today’s board is a bit of a rollercoaster. The Yellow and Green categories are relatively approachable if you focus on common themes. However, the Blue and Purple categories require a bit of knowledge about modern internet slang and a very sharp eye for hidden patterns.

Here are some quick hints to get you started:

• Yellow: That "feeling" you get when you just know something is true.
• Green: How you might set your smartphone during a movie or a nap.
• Blue: Behaviors you definitely want to avoid when looking for a partner.
• Purple: Look closely at the spelling of the two words in each phrase. The first word is hiding somewhere...

Connections Category Groups

Yellow: PREMONITION

This group focuses on that unexplainable inner knowledge or "vibe" we get about a situation.

• GUT FEELING
• HUNCH
• INTUITION
• SIXTH SENSE

Green: CELLPHONE MODES

These are the standard settings you cycle through on your mobile device to control how it alerts you to notifications.

• DO NOT DISTURB
• RING
• SILENT
• VIBRATE

Blue: BAD THINGS TO DO IN MODERN DATING

If you’ve been on the apps lately, these terms will be painfully familiar. They represent manipulative or avoidant behaviors in the dating world.

• BREADCRUMB: Sending occasional, non-committal messages just to keep someone interested without any intent of moving forward.
• CATFISH: Pretending to be someone else online using fake photos and information.
• GHOST: Cutting off all communication with someone suddenly and without explanation.
• LOVE BOMB: Showering someone with excessive affection and attention early on as a form of manipulation.

Purple: PHRASES WHOSE SECOND WORDS INCLUDE THEIR FIRST WORD

This is the "trick" category for the day. If you look at the second word of each phrase, you'll see the first word spelled out inside it.

• AIR CAIRO: (C-AIR-O)
• ALL HALLOWS: (H-ALL-OWS)
• ARM WARMER: (W-ARM-ER)
• THE OTHERS: (O-THE-RS)

How to Solve Today's Puzzle

If you’re stuck on the NYT Connections hint for today, the best strategy is to look for the dating terms first. GHOST and CATFISH are very distinct, which should lead you to BREADCRUMB and LOVE BOMB.

Once those are out of the way, the phone modes (SILENT, VIBRATE, RING) are a natural grouping. The trickiest part of today’s puzzle is definitely the Purple category. Phrases like AIR CAIRO (a real airline based in Egypt) and ALL HALLOWS seem unrelated until you realize the letters of the first word are nestled perfectly inside the second.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NYT Connections?

Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Players are given 16 words and must group them into four sets of four based on a common theme. Each group has a different difficulty level: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).

When does the NYT Connections reset?

The puzzle resets every day at midnight in your local time zone.

Can I play past NYT Connections puzzles?

While the official NYT app primarily features the daily puzzle, there are several fan-made archives online where you can play previous editions of the game.

How do I win NYT Connections?

To win, you must correctly identify all four groups before making four mistakes. Once you select four words and hit "Submit," the game will tell you if you are correct or "one away."

Check back tomorrow for more hints and the latest solutions!