Need a nudge for NYT Connections puzzle #1009, dated Monday, March 16, 2026? Start with the spoiler-light clues below; the four solved groups are further down, behind a warning.
Hints for Connections #1009
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on a shared link. These clues move from broad nudges toward the category ideas, without revealing the full word sets.
- Yellow: Collective beast names.
- Green: Opposite of fast.
- Blue: Each word contains a letter you can’t hear.
- Purple: USA homophones.
These spoiler-light hints are phrased by TechRadar’s March 16 guide. Parade gives similar nudges: “Critters in a crowd,” “Not fast,” “Silent letter,” and “States, but shorter” (Parade’s guide).
Full answers for March 16
Warning: spoilers below.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Animal group names | GAGGLE, PACK, POD, PRIDE |
| Green | Things associated with being slow | GLACIER, MOLASSES, SLOTH, TRAFFIC |
| Blue | Silent “W” | CARTWRIGHT, TWO, WRATH, WRESTLE |
| Purple | Words that sound like state abbreviations | ANY, EMMY, ENVY, OKAY |
Why the groups fit
Yellow: Animal group names
A gaggle, pack, pod, and pride are all collective nouns for groups of animals.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
Green: Things associated with being slow
A glacier moves slowly, molasses is known for flowing slowly, a sloth is associated with slow movement, and traffic can move slowly.
Blue: Silent “W”
The “W” is silent in CARTWRIGHT, TWO, WRATH, and WRESTLE.
Purple: Words that sound like state abbreviations
Say the letter names in the abbreviations aloud: ANY sounds like N.Y., EMMY like M.E., ENVY like N.V., and OKAY like O.K.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.One answer-page discrepancy
TechRadar and Parade agree on the four groups above. An AllThings.How page carrying the same date and puzzle number lists a different set of categories and words (AllThings.How’s March 16 page). Its listed solution does not match the two agreeing guides, so it is not included as the answer set here.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
