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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe NYT Connections puzzle for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, is game #1004. The four groups are STEAL, MAKE NICER, WITH “UP”, KINDS OF CONES, and PRONOUN HOMOPHONES.
If you are still solving, start with the progressive hints below and stop before the spoiler section. The date is in the past, so “today’s” refers to the original daily-puzzle date rather than the current day.
March 11, 2026 Connections hints
Here are the hints in increasing order of specificity:
- Yellow: Deftly burgle.
- Green: Improvements.
- Blue: Conical variety.
- Purple: Sound like people.
Another way to think about the same four groups is:
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- Yellow: “Bring that back!”
- Green: “Fancy ____.”
- Blue: Think of a certain shape.
- Purple: “Sounds like…”
The 16 Connections tiles
The word grid was:
DRESS, SNOW, PALM, JAZZ, YEW, LIFT, SPRUCE, TRAFFIC, PINE, POCKET, OUI, PINCH, HEE, ICE CREAM, SPIFF, MI
Several tiles are deliberately tempting in more than one direction. For example, SNOW, PINE, and TRAFFIC look unrelated until the shared word cone is considered, while HEE, MI, OUI, and YEW depend on pronunciation rather than meaning.
March 11 Connections answers
Spoilers begin here.
Yellow: STEAL
LIFT, PALM, PINCH, POCKET
Each can be used as an informal verb meaning to steal. To “lift” or “pinch” something is to steal it. “Palm” can refer to taking or concealing something deceptively, while “pocket” can mean taking or keeping something improperly.
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Green: MAKE NICER, WITH “UP”
DRESS, JAZZ, SPIFF, SPRUCE
Put UP after each word and the resulting phrase means to improve, decorate, or make something more attractive:
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- dress up
- jazz up
- spiff up
- spruce up
Blue: KINDS OF CONES
ICE CREAM, PINE, SNOW, TRAFFIC
These can all precede or form a familiar phrase with CONE:
- ice-cream cone
- pine cone
- snow cone
- traffic cone
This is a classic Connections construction: the words do not belong to one ordinary subject area, but all pair with the same noun.
Purple: PRONOUN HOMOPHONES
HEE, MI, OUI, YEW
Read aloud, these words sound like pronouns or pronoun forms:
- HEE sounds like he
- MI sounds like me
- OUI sounds like we
- YEW sounds like you
The category is based on sound, which makes it the puzzle’s most deceptive group. The spellings themselves are not the point; pronunciation is.
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How NYT Connections works
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Each group has a shared relationship, and players can make up to four mistakes before the puzzle ends. The difficulty comes from overlapping associations: a word may appear to fit several possible groups until the intended connection becomes clear.
Rank #4
For this grid, the most useful solving techniques are to look for short phrases such as “___ up,” test common compounds such as “___ cone,” and read unusual spellings aloud when a sound-based category seems possible.
For the original puzzle listing and answer record, see the March 11, 2026 NYT Connections guide and the corresponding Connections puzzle archive entry.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Want more Connections puzzles?
The publisher has announced an official Connections hardcover puzzle collection from The New York Times Games and Wyna Liu, described as containing more than 100 puzzles. Its listed publication date is October 27, 2026, so availability, preorder options, and regional retail listings should be checked before purchasing. It should not be assumed to contain this specific March 11, 2026 daily grid.
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More Connections puzzles in book form: look for the official Connections puzzle book from the authorized publisher once it is available in your region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the answer to NYT Connections on March 11, 2026?
The four groups were STEAL; MAKE NICER, WITH “UP”; KINDS OF CONES; and PRONOUN HOMOPHONES.
What was the purple group in Connections #1004?
The purple group was PRONOUN HOMOPHONES: HEE, MI, OUI, and YEW sound like he, me, we, and you.
What were the cone answers in the March 11, 2026 Connections puzzle?
ICE CREAM, PINE, SNOW, and TRAFFIC formed the KINDS OF CONES group.
The Bottom Line
The March 11, 2026 NYT Connections solution was: LIFT, PALM, PINCH, POCKET for STEAL; DRESS, JAZZ, SPIFF, SPRUCE for words followed by UP; ICE CREAM, PINE, SNOW, TRAFFIC for kinds of cones; and HEE, MI, OUI, YEW for pronoun homophones.
