Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,004 hints and answers for Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #1,004 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

STEAL

LIFT · PALM · PINCH · POCKET

Group 2 - Green

Hint: One thread ties these four together. It is a fair link, not a trick - think about what the words can all be or do.

MAKE NICER, WITH "UP"

DRESS · JAZZ · SPIFF · SPRUCE

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

KINDS OF CONES

ICE CREAM · PINE · SNOW · TRAFFIC

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

PRONOUN HOMOPHONES

HEE · MI · OUI · YEW

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "Survival mode"