Connections Hint
Puzzle #1089 · June 4, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for June 4, 2026

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

Thursday, June 4, 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
ACRYLICTOWNPEPPERBEASTIEOILPUBLICVINEGARWRITERTEMPERASALTGOUACHEPANACHEVERVEGUSTOKITCHENRUN

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • These materials bring color to life on blank canvases.
  • These words burst with energy and spirited flair.
  • Think of how you would introduce some famous bands.
  • These words gain a spooky twist with the right companion.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • You'll need knowledge of traditional artist materials and their names.
  • You'll need a vocabulary for describing energetic and lively personality traits.
  • Recall legendary rap groups from the 1980s and 1990s.
  • Think of a common spooky-sounding adjective that fits before each term.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • All four are types of paint used by artists across centuries.
  • Each word captures a quality of liveliness or spirited energy, including one with a tangy bite.
  • Each is the first word in the name of a classic hip-hop group.
  • The solution is a single word that precedes all four to form familiar phrases.

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.

OIL

Looks like a cooking ingredient and could pair with VINEGAR, SALT, and PEPPER, but it's actually a painting medium.

VINEGAR

Easily mistaken for a kitchen condiment alongside OIL and SALT, hiding its figurative meaning of feisty energy.

SALT

Could be grouped with PEPPER as seasonings, but it actually starts the name of a famous hip-hop trio.

PEPPER

Seems like a spice paired with SALT, but it's part of a compound phrase with a ghostly prefix.

Connections Answers — June 4, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
PAINTING MEDIA
OIL · TEMPERA · GOUACHE · ACRYLIC
Tap to reveal
ESPRIT
VINEGAR · PANACHE · VERVE · GUSTO
Tap to reveal
STARTS OF CLASSIC HIP-HOP GROUPS
PUBLIC · SALT · RUN · BEASTIE
Tap to reveal
GHOST ___
WRITER · PEPPER · KITCHEN · TOWN
Tap to reveal

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1089

Why each group works — not just what it is

PAINTING MEDIA

ACRYLIC, GOUACHE, OIL, and TEMPERA are all classic painting media. From modern acrylics to ancient egg-based tempera, artists have used these substances to create works of art across centuries.

ESPRIT

GUSTO, PANACHE, VERVE, and VINEGAR all express a sense of lively energy and spirited style. VINEGAR is not the condiment here but the figurative meaning of feistiness—as in 'full of vinegar.'

STARTS OF CLASSIC HIP-HOP GROUPS

Each word kicks off the name of an iconic hip-hop group: BEASTIE (Boys), PUBLIC (Enemy), RUN (D.M.C.), and SALT (N-Pepa). These acts shaped the genre in the 1980s and 1990s.

GHOST ___

The word GHOST pairs with these four to form common phrases: GHOST KITCHEN (a delivery-only restaurant), GHOST PEPPER (a fiery chili), GHOST TOWN (an abandoned town), and GHOST WRITER (an uncredited author).

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
ACRYLIC
A fast-drying, water-based paint known for versatility and vivid colors, popular among modern artists.
TOWN
Paired with 'ghost,' it refers to a deserted settlement, often evocative of the Old West and its abandoned main streets.
PEPPER
Combined with 'ghost,' it names a famously scorching chili, the bhut jolokia, once the world's hottest.
BEASTIE
The first part of the Beastie Boys, an iconic group known for blending rap with punk and rock.
OIL
A slow-drying paint made by suspending pigment in oil, famously used by the Old Masters for its rich texture.
PUBLIC
The first word of Public Enemy, a legendary hip-hop group celebrated for politically charged lyrics.
VINEGAR
Beyond its role as a sour kitchen condiment, this word can mean sharp energy or feistiness in a person.
WRITER
After 'ghost,' it means someone who pens work for another person, taking no official credit for the writing.
TEMPERA
An ancient painting medium where pigment is mixed with a binder like egg yolk, fast-drying and long-lasting.
SALT
The opening name of Salt-N-Pepa, the trailblazing female hip-hop trio known for 'Push It' and empowering anthems.
GOUACHE
An opaque watercolor paint that dries with a matte finish, often used in illustration and design.
PANACHE
A French loanword meaning flamboyant confidence, stylish flair, or a dashing manner of doing things.
VERVE
Vitality and spirited enthusiasm, especially in artistic expression; a word suggesting dynamic energy.
GUSTO
Enthusiastic enjoyment and vigor; doing something with hearty relish and energetic pleasure.
KITCHEN
Used here after 'ghost' to describe a restaurant that prepares food solely for delivery with no dine-in space.
RUN
The first word in the name of Run-D.M.C., the pioneering rap trio that brought hip-hop to mainstream audiences.

Difficulty & Analysis

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

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
GHOST ___

requires lateral thinking

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