This guide covers the NYT Connections puzzle for Friday, April 17, 2026, identified as game #1041 by four dated answer guides. Start with spoiler-safe hints, then reveal the categories and full word groups only when you’re ready.
Spoiler-safe hints for April 17
These clues are arranged from broadest to more revealing. Stop at the level that gives you enough help.
- Healthy food
- Widespread
- Ebony and ivory
- Cheers!
Category hints
Spoilers begin here. The four categories concern plant life, following the leader, piano parts, and partial drink names.
NYT Connections answers for April 17, 2026
Full solution spoilers below.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | VEGETABLE PARTS | BULB, LEAF, ROOT, STEM |
| Green | PREVAILING | COMMON, DOMINANT, GENERAL, POPULAR |
| Blue | PARTS OF A PIANO | HAMMER, KEY, PEDAL, STRING |
| Purple | SECOND HALVES OF DRINK NAMES | SODA, STORMY, TAN, TONIC |
The 16-word grid
DOMINANT, KEY, ROOT, TAN, TONIC, STEM, HAMMER, GENERAL, BULB, SODA, COMMON, STRING, STORMY, LEAF, PEDAL, POPULAR.
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How Connections works
Connections presents sixteen words to sort into four groups of four based on a shared connection. For this dated puzzle, the clues can point to literal parts of vegetables or a piano, synonyms for “prevailing,” and the endings of drink names. Forbes described daily play as free and archive access as subscription-based in April 2026; access terms can change, so check the NYT Games site for current details.
Quick Recap
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