The New York Times Connections
The New York Times Connections

NEW YORK — The New York Times Connections puzzle No. 1074 for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, grouped 16 words into four categories centered on stove controls, strength synonyms, music elements and film titles.

Players faced the standard 4x4 grid and sorted the words into themed sets. The New York Times Games team reported a tester difficulty rating of 2.3 out of 5 for the puzzle.

Yellow category (easiest): Stove knob settings — HIGH, MEDIUM, OFF, SIMMER.

Green category: Potency — CONCENTRATION, FORCE, INTENSITY, MIGHT.

Blue category: Music theory concepts — INTERVAL, KEY, MODE, SCALE.

Purple category (hardest): "_____ Day" movies — GROUNDHOG, INDEPENDENCE, THE LONGEST, TRAINING.

The puzzle released at midnight in each time zone, as is standard for Connections. Solvers accessed it via the New York Times Games website or app. The companion article, published May 19, 2026, provided hints and discussion space while warning of spoilers.

Connections, created by Josh Wardle and acquired by The New York Times, presents 16 words daily. Players identify four groups of four that share a common theme. Correct groups receive color coding: yellow for the simplest, followed by green, blue and purple for the most challenging.

The May 20 puzzle drew on everyday kitchen references in the yellow group, abstract power-related terms in green, foundational music ideas in blue and well-known movie titles sharing a common word in purple. "Groundhog" and "Independence" often served as entry points for the purple category among solvers familiar with film calendars.

Yesterday's puzzle, No. 1073 on May 19, featured different groupings. The archive shows steady progression of daily challenges since the game's wider release. Players maintain streaks by solving within the daily window before midnight reset.

Community feedback on the companion page and external sites noted varied solve paths. Some identified the purple movie category early due to prominent titles, while others started with stove settings after spotting "simmer" and "medium." Music theory terms provided a mid-level connection once initial groups cleared.

The New York Times Games team credits artist Calum Heath for the May 20 illustration. Companion articles pair each puzzle with visual elements and editor notes.

Connections sits alongside Wordle, Spelling Bee, Mini Crossword and other titles in the NYT Games portfolio. The platform requires no subscription for basic daily play, though full access and archives come with a Games or full Times subscription. Millions engage with the suite daily.

Strategy discussions emphasize starting with obvious clusters, such as repeated proper nouns or clear synonyms, then using process of elimination. The shuffle button helps rearrange the grid when stuck. One mistake removes lives, with four mistakes ending the attempt.

For May 20, the yellow group aligned with common appliance dials. Green captured synonyms for strength or effectiveness. Blue drew directly from music education basics. Purple linked films whose titles include "Day," referring to "Groundhog Day," "Independence Day," "The Longest Day" and "Training Day."

Solver grids shared online showed patterns such as purple-first solves or near-misses that mixed intensity-related words with music terms before correction. The 2.3 difficulty rating placed it in the moderate range for midweek play.

The game's design limits each puzzle to one unique solution set. Official rules prohibit offensive or overly obscure entries, maintaining broad accessibility. Editors curate words to balance challenge and fairness across global audiences.

Players track personal statistics including current streak, win percentage and average attempts. Connections Bot offers post-solve analysis comparing individual performance to the broader player pool.

Broader NYT Games ecosystem includes themed variants and occasional special editions. Regular Connections maintains a fixed daily schedule with new content each midnight. Social media channels, including Instagram @nytgames, share tips and behind-the-scenes content.

For those who solved No. 1074, the next puzzle resets at midnight local time. Archives allow review of past solutions for pattern recognition in letter frequency, category styles and difficulty curves.

The May 20 solution highlighted connections spanning domestic appliances, abstract nouns, academic disciplines and popular culture. Its moderate rating and recognizable references contributed to high completion rates among regular players.

Discussions noted the puzzle's clean separation once initial categories fell. Stove settings provided an accessible on-ramp, while the movie group rewarded cultural knowledge. Music and potency groups tested precise vocabulary links.

The New York Times publishes daily companion reviews with hints, full answers after solving and community comments. These resources support new players while preserving the challenge for veterans.

Connections continues to grow its audience years after launch. The simple premise — grouping 16 words into four thematic sets — delivers consistent daily engagement through logical deduction and word association.

For Wednesday's puzzle, the confirmed groups stand as:

  • Stove knob settings: High, Medium, Off, Simmer
  • Potency: Concentration, Force, Intensity, Might
  • Music theory concepts: Interval, Key, Mode, Scale
  • "_____ Day" movies: Groundhog, Independence, The Longest, Training

Solvers who completed the grid can share emoji representations showing their solve order and mistakes. The game encourages returning daily for fresh challenges and streak building.

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