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Spoilers ahead: The NYT Connections answers for Sunday, April 5, 2026, are below. This was game #1029; do not confuse it with the separate Saturday, April 5, 2025 puzzle.
Spoiler warning: The complete answers for NYT Connections game #1029, played on Sunday, April 5, 2026, appear below.
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Hints for Connections #1029
If you only want a nudge before seeing the answers, try these broad clues:
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Yellow: Basics of matter
- Green: Associated with Sherlock Holmes
- Blue: Heads or tails—and another kind of gesture
- Purple: Slime- or oatmeal-like material, hidden at the starts of longer words
NYT Connections answers for Sunday, April 5, 2026
The four groups in Connections #1029 are:
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Atomic structure terms | ELECTRON, NUCLEUS, ORBIT, SHELL |
| Green | Parts of a Sherlock Holmes costume | DEERSTALKER, MAGNIFYING GLASS, PIPE, VIOLIN |
| Blue | Things to flip | COIN, LIGHT SWITCH, PANCAKE, THE BIRD |
| Purple | Starting with synonyms for “slush” | GOOGOL, MUSHROOM, PASTEURIZE, PULPIT |
Yellow: Atomic structure terms
ELECTRON, NUCLEUS, ORBIT, SHELL
These words connect to the structure or commonly taught models of the atom. An electron is a subatomic particle, the nucleus is the atom’s central core, and shell describes an electron-energy level. Orbit fits the familiar language used to describe an electron’s position or path around a nucleus, although modern quantum mechanics describes electron behavior more precisely using orbitals and probability distributions.
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Green: Parts of a Sherlock Holmes costume
DEERSTALKER, MAGNIFYING GLASS, PIPE, VIOLIN
The group uses the familiar visual shorthand for Sherlock Holmes. The deerstalker, magnifying glass, and pipe are classic Holmes-associated props or costume elements. The violin is less obviously a costume item, but it belongs to the character’s established portrayal: Holmes is known for playing the violin.
This category describes the recognizable Holmes image used in popular culture rather than a literal inventory of everything the detective wears. The deerstalker, in particular, is a strong clue even though the original stories do not make it the character’s universal signature in the way later adaptations do.
Blue: Things to flip
COIN, LIGHT SWITCH, PANCAKE, THE BIRD
You can flip a coin, flip a light switch, and flip a pancake. “Flip the bird” is an informal expression for making an offensive hand gesture, which supplies the fourth answer.
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The wording is intentionally mixed: three entries describe ordinary physical actions, while THE BIRD depends on the idiom.
Purple: Starting with synonyms for “slush”
GOOGOL, MUSHROOM, PASTEURIZE, PULPIT
This is the most indirect group. Each word begins with a word meaning, or closely associated with, slush:
- GOO + gol = GOOGOL
- MUSH + room = MUSHROOM
- PASTE + urize = PASTEURIZE
- PULP + it = PULPIT
Here, “slush” is being treated broadly as a soft, wet, pulpy, or semi-liquid substance. The connection is based on the beginning of each answer, not on the complete meaning of the word. That fragment-based construction is typical of a difficult purple group: the full words appear unrelated until their openings are isolated.
Full Connections grid for April 5, 2026
For a complete board check, the 16 words were:
ELECTRON · NUCLEUS · ORBIT · SHELL · DEERSTALKER · MAGNIFYING GLASS · PIPE · VIOLIN · COIN · LIGHT SWITCH · PANCAKE · THE BIRD · GOOGOL · MUSHROOM · PASTEURIZE · PULPIT
Why this puzzle can feel difficult
The first three groups use different kinds of relationships: scientific vocabulary, a fictional-character association, and verbs or phrases involving “flip.” That variety creates several plausible distractions. The final group is harder because the connection does not concern what GOOGOL, MUSHROOM, PASTEURIZE, and PULPIT mean as complete words. Instead, it asks you to notice the hidden opening fragments GOO, MUSH, PASTE, and PULP.
Any label such as “hard” is an editorial assessment from an answer guide or companion tool, not an official New York Times performance statistic. Players’ experiences can vary depending on which misleading connections they notice first.
Do not confuse this with the April 5, 2025 puzzle
The date needs a year attached because Saturday, April 5, 2025 was a different Connections puzzle, identified as game #664. The answers above are specifically for Sunday, April 5, 2026, game #1029.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Connections game number for April 5, 2026?
The NYT Connections puzzle for Sunday, April 5, 2026 was game #1029. Its groups were Atomic Structure Terms; Parts of a Sherlock Holmes Costume; Things to Flip; and Starting With Synonyms for “Slush.”
What was the purple category in Connections #1029?
The purple answers were GOOGOL, MUSHROOM, PASTEURIZE, and PULPIT. They begin with GOO, MUSH, PASTE, and PULP, respectively—soft, wet, pulpy, or semi-liquid substances associated with “slush.”
Best Value
- Find hundreds of words in an easy to read format - Some words you'll spot easily, but you'll have to search hard for others.
- A wide range of puzzle topics, including movies, actors, sports, cars, and more!
- Variations on the standard word search puzzles are included for extra challenge.
- Answer key in the back of the book.
- Spiral bound, 192 pages.
Is this the same puzzle as the April 5, 2025 Connections game?
No. Saturday, April 5, 2025 was a different puzzle, game #664. The answers in this guide are for Sunday, April 5, 2026, game #1029.
The Bottom Line
The answers for NYT Connections #1029 on Sunday, April 5, 2026, are atomic structure terms; Sherlock Holmes costume elements; things to flip; and words beginning with synonyms for “slush.” The purple group is GOOGOL, MUSHROOM, PASTEURIZE, PULPIT.
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