Connections Hint
Puzzle #1110 · June 25, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for June 25, 2026

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

Thursday, June 25, 2026
Get the hintsSpoiler-free · three levels ↓ Skip to answersJust give me the solution →
Today’s 16 Puzzle Words
Tap any word to see how it’s used in this puzzle
TRACKPADCOMPRESSEDSQUASHEDDENSECOMPACTPRINTERLEADCROQUETTEPOLONIUMDUCTILEMONITORFRANCIUMHOCKEYCRANIUMMICROPHONEMERCURY

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • These objects serve as bridges between you and your machine.
  • When there's barely any space, these words capture that squeezed feeling.
  • They’re known for their reactivity and danger in pure form.
  • Ignore their meanings — the start of each word hides a secret.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • They're the extras you plug into your laptop to make it more useful.
  • You might use these words to describe a thick forest or a tightly rolled sleeping bag.
  • Think of the periodic table's scary side — toxic elements you wouldn't want to touch.
  • Pronounce the opening sound of each word and you'll notice a theme from the skies.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • These peripheral devices let you interact with your computer in different ways, from seeing to speaking.
  • Each word is a synonym for closely compacted, often used when space is minimal or items are pushed together.
  • A set of toxic metallic elements from the periodic table, all posing health risks if not handled properly.
  • Each word begins with a sound that matches a bird name, though the spelling differs.

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.

MERCURY

Could be mistaken for a planet or a Roman god, drawing attention away from its identity as a hazardous metal.

DUCTILE

Often describes metals like gold or copper, making it a plausible fifth member of the hazardous metals group.

CRANIUM

Seems like a bone-related term, which might lead solvers to search for an anatomy category that doesn’t exist.

HOCKEY

Clearly a sport, which could trick players into looking for other athletic words, even though none are present.

Connections Answers — June 25, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
COMPUTER PERIPHERALS
TRACKPAD · MICROPHONE · MONITOR · PRINTER
Tap to reveal
TIGHTLY PACKED
COMPACT · SQUASHED · DENSE · COMPRESSED
Tap to reveal
HAZARDOUS ELEMENTAL METALS
POLONIUM · LEAD · MERCURY · FRANCIUM
Tap to reveal
STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES
CRANIUM · HOCKEY · CROQUETTE · DUCTILE
Tap to reveal
SEE ALSO:
NYT Wordle hints for June 25, 2026 NYT Pips hints for June 25, 2026 NYT Strands hints for June 25, 2026

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1110

Why each group works — not just what it is

COMPUTER PERIPHERALS

MICROPHONE, MONITOR, PRINTER, and TRACKPAD are all external components that connect to a computer, each serving a distinct input or output function.

TIGHTLY PACKED

COMPACT, COMPRESSED, DENSE, and SQUASHED all describe a state of reduced volume or closely packed contents, emphasizing how things are pressed together.

HAZARDOUS ELEMENTAL METALS

FRANCIUM, LEAD, MERCURY, and POLONIUM are heavy metals known for their toxicity and radioactivity, making them dangerous to handle without precautions.

STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES

Though unrelated in meaning, CRANIUM, CROQUETTE, DUCTILE, and HOCKEY each begin with a syllable that mimics the name of a bird — crane, crow, duck, and hawk respectively — a clever phonetic disguise.

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
TRACKPAD
A touch-sensitive surface on laptops that allows finger control of the cursor.
COMPRESSED
Reduced in volume by pressure, as when air is squeezed into a smaller space.
SQUASHED
Flattened or pressed out of shape by pressure.
DENSE
Having parts crowded together; can describe thick fog or a compact object.
COMPACT
Closely and neatly packed together; can also refer to a small cosmetics case.
PRINTER
A machine that transfers text or images onto paper from a computer.
LEAD
A heavy, toxic metal once used in pipes and paint; also a verb meaning to guide.
CROQUETTE
A small breaded and fried food roll, typically containing mashed potatoes or meat.
POLONIUM
A rare radioactive element discovered by Marie Curie, named after Poland.
DUCTILE
Capable of being drawn into thin wires, a property common in metals like copper.
MONITOR
A screen that displays computer output; also means to observe closely.
FRANCIUM
An extremely rare, radioactive alkali metal, one of the most unstable elements.
HOCKEY
A fast-paced team sport played on ice or field with sticks and a puck or ball.
CRANIUM
The skull, the bony structure enclosing the brain.
MICROPHONE
A device that converts sound into electrical signals for recording or amplification.
MERCURY
A liquid metal at room temperature, used in thermometers; also the closest planet to the sun.

Puzzle Design Analysis

Why the editor constructed it this way

Wyna Liu plants a masterful distraction with DUCTILE, whose true meaning screams 'metal' yet belongs to the bird-homophone trick. The hazard metals group reads like a chemistry exam, pushing knowledge boundaries, while the Purple category rewards auditory thinking over visual scanning. It's a balanced puzzle that layers misdirection without feeling unfair.

Difficulty & Analysis

How tough today’s board really plays
Overall
7.0/10
Most deceptive
DUCTILE

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
Bird Homophones

requires lateral thinking

Connections Strategy Guides

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