Connections Hint
Puzzle #1107 · June 22, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for June 22, 2026

Start with the spoiler-free hints. Go deeper only when you need to. Reveal answers on your own terms.

Monday, June 22, 2026
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Today’s 16 Puzzle Words
Tap any word to see how it’s used in this puzzle
●ALPHASOFTPRIMARYXLEADBYSTRESSEDBANGKOKSHORTPOWDERTIMESBOOMERPOPSICLEHEADSILENT

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • These words all carry a sense of top position or #1 status.
  • These items have a knack for combining quantities in a specific way.
  • These terms all point to nuances in spoken expression.
  • There's a hidden pattern at the very beginning of each word — look closely.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • Think of different ways to say 'the most important or controlling entity.'
  • These symbols and words all denote the same mathematical function — the one that’s like repeated addition.
  • These are terms you might encounter in a dictionary's guide to saying a word.
  • Think about comic book sound effects — those might be hidden in these words.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • These are all synonyms for being the boss or number one in a group.
  • Each of these represents the multiplication operation — from a letter to a tiny circle.
  • These are adjectives that describe how a letter or syllable is pronounced — like whether it’s clipped or not voiced.
  • Each word begins with a comic book onomatopoeia for a sudden impact or explosion.

Today’s Trap Words

The words engineered to mislead

Every Connections board plants a few decoys. Here are today’s, and why they pull you the wrong way.

●

This symbol might be mistaken for a bullet point or a dot decorator, not an arithmetic operator.

LEAD

It can refer to the metal, which might be paired with SOFT as a property, creating a false category about materials.

BY

A common preposition, it's easy to overlook as a multiplication indicator rather than a location or agent.

Connections Answers — June 22, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
DOMINANT
HEAD · ALPHA · LEAD · PRIMARY
Tap to reveal
MULTIPLICATION INDICATORS
X · TIMES · ● · BY
Tap to reveal
PRONUNCIATION DESCRIPTORS
STRESSED · SOFT · SILENT · SHORT
Tap to reveal
STARTING WITH EXPLOSIVE ONOMATOPOEIA
BOOMER · POWDER · POPSICLE · BANGKOK
Tap to reveal
SEE ALSO:
NYT Wordle hints for June 22, 2026 NYT Pips hints for June 22, 2026 NYT Strands hints for June 22, 2026

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1107

Why each group works — not just what it is

DOMINANT

These words all mean the most important or controlling entity in a group. ALPHA, HEAD, LEAD, and PRIMARY are all powerful synonyms for being at the top.

MULTIPLICATION INDICATORS

BY, TIMES, X, and ● are different symbols and short words that signify the multiplication operation in arithmetic. The dot is the most subtle of the set.

PRONUNCIATION DESCRIPTORS

SHORT, SILENT, SOFT, and STRESSED are terms used to describe how letters or syllables are sounded out in speech. They're common in dictionary pronunciation guides.

STARTING WITH EXPLOSIVE ONOMATOPOEIA

BANGKOK, BOOMER, POPSICLE, and POWDER each begin with a comic book sound effect for an explosion: bang, boom, pop, and pow. The words are otherwise unrelated, making this a clever wordplay category.

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
●
A small filled circle that acts as a multiplication sign, often seen in mathematical notation.
ALPHA
The first letter of the Greek alphabet, often used to denote the dominant individual in a group, like an alpha wolf.
SOFT
Describes a consonant sound that is gentle or palatalized, such as the 'c' in 'city' versus hard 'c.'
PRIMARY
Refers to something that is first in order or importance, like a primary concern or primary color.
X
The letter used as a common symbol for multiplication in arithmetic equations.
LEAD
Can mean to guide or be in front, as in taking the lead, distinguishing it from the metal.
BY
A preposition used in multiplication to indicate dimensions, as in '2 by 4,' meaning 2 times 4.
STRESSED
Indicates a syllable that is emphasized or louder when spoken, as in 'RE-cord' versus 're-CORD.'
BANGKOK
The capital of Thailand, which coincidentally starts with the explosive sound 'bang.'
SHORT
In pronunciation, describes a vowel sound that is brief, like the 'a' in 'cat.'
POWDER
Fine, dry particles like snow or talc; its first three letters 'pow' sound like a comic book punch.
TIMES
A word meaning multiplied by, as in 'three times two equals six.'
BOOMER
A term for someone born during the baby boom generation, but here the focus is on its 'boom' beginning.
POPSICLE
A trademarked frozen treat on a stick, with 'pop' evoking a sudden sound and the frozen pop.
HEAD
The top or chief part, such as the head of a department or the head of the class.
SILENT
Refers to a letter that is not pronounced, like the 'k' in 'knee.'

Puzzle Design Analysis

Why the editor constructed it this way

Wyna Liu crafted a puzzle with a clever visual twist: the multiplication dot (●) subtly hides among letters, while LEAD's double meaning as metal tempts a false category with SOFT. The purple category delightfully subverts expectations by hiding comic-book explosions in plain sight at word beginnings. It's a well-balanced mix of straightforward synonyms, math notation, and linguistic play.

Difficulty & Analysis

How tough today’s board really plays
Overall
5.5/10
Most deceptive
LEAD

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
Explosive Starters

requires lateral thinking

Connections Strategy Guides

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