Looking for help with today's NYT Connections? Here are all the hints, clues, and answers for Connections #1017 on March 24, 2026.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections challenges players to group 16 words into four categories of four, finding the hidden theme that links each group. Categories are color-coded by difficulty: yellow is easiest, green is medium, blue is hard, and purple is the trickiest. You get four mistakes before the game ends.
If you enjoy word puzzles, also check out our March 22, 2026 NYT Connections #1015 hints and answers.
How to Play Connections
- Group four words that share a hidden common theme
- Start with the color you feel most confident about
- Use the shuffle button to spot patterns you may have missed
- Share your results on social media, just like Wordle
For an extra challenge, try the March 22, 2026 NYT Connections Sports Edition #545 published alongside the main puzzle.
Hints for Connections #1017 ā March 24, 2026
Not ready for the full answers? Here are gentle category hints:
- šØ Yellow (Easiest): Think of words that describe someone ā or something ā without any moral worth
- š© Green: These are things you'd find at a very specific kind of celebration involving two people making promises
- š¦ Blue: These all precede a common word to name a type of large road vehicle
- šŖ Purple (Hardest): These words are spelled identically but sound completely different depending on context ā the trickiest kind of wordplay
Today's Connections Categories ā March 24, 2026
Here are the actual category names:
- šØ Yellow: DESPICABLE
- š© Green: FEATURES OF A WEDDING
- š¦ Blue: KINDS OF TRUCKS
- šŖ Purple: HETERONYMS
Full answers:
- šØ DESPICABLE: BASE, LOW, MEAN, VILE
- š© FEATURES OF A WEDDING: CAKE, KISS, RING, VOW
- š¦ KINDS OF TRUCKS: DUMP, FIRE, FOOD, TOW
- šŖ HETERONYMS: BOW, ROW, SOW, WIND
Today's puzzle had some genuinely clever misdirection at play. Words like BASE, LOW, DUMP, and VILE all feel like they could describe undesirable places or conditions, making it very tempting to lump them together ā but only the first three belong to the DESPICABLE group, while DUMP is actually a type of truck. Similarly, RING and BOW might both make you think of weddings or gifts, but BOW lands in the HETERONYMS category because it can be pronounced two different ways. WIND is another sneaky one ā a word that sounds different when you mean the breeze versus the act of winding something up.
Tips for Solving Today's Puzzle
- Don't be tricked by BASE and DUMP together ā both feel negative, but DUMP belongs with FIRE, FOOD, and TOW as types of trucks, while BASE joins the DESPICABLE group with LOW, MEAN, and VILE.
- The WEDDING group is the cleanest starting point ā CAKE, KISS, RING, and VOW are all distinct elements of a wedding ceremony with little overlap into other categories.
- For the HETERONYMS group, say each word aloud ā BOW, ROW, SOW, and WIND all have two very different pronunciations depending on meaning, which is the key to spotting them.
- WIND is the ultimate red herring ā it could suggest nature, trucks, or storms, but its double pronunciation is the real connection that places it firmly in the purple HETERONYMS group.
Don't feel discouraged if today's puzzle stumped you. A brand new Connections puzzle resets at midnight, and we'll have fresh hints and answers ready.