Connections ·

Connections Hints Today: Clues and Answer for May 17, 2026

Spoiler-safe Connections hints for May 17, 2026, followed by a hidden answer reveal.

Hints first Answer hidden Archive saved
Connections Hints Today: Clues and Answer for May 17, 2026 artwork

Today’s Connections is ready for May 17, 2026. Start with the spoiler-safe clue ladder below, then open the final reveal only when you want the answer.

Today’s Connections Hints for May 17, 2026

  • One group points toward conduit.
  • One group points toward swindle.
  • One group points toward tea-making verbs.
  • One group points toward “school” modifiers.

If the clues are enough, stop here and solve the puzzle first. The next box contains the answer reveal.

Connections final reveal

Ready for the answer?

Use the hints first. The final answer stays hidden until you choose to open it.

Answer CONDUIT: DUCT, LINE, MAIN, PIPE; SWINDLE: FLEECE, HOSE, SQUEEZE, STIFF; TEA-MAKING VERBS: BOIL, POUR, STEEP, STRAIN; "SCHOOL" MODIFIERS: GRADE, GRAMMAR, HIGH, PRIMARY

Today’s Connections Answer

The Connections answer for May 17, 2026 is inside the reveal box above so the hints stay useful for readers who want to solve before seeing the solution.

Why This Puzzle Plays This Way

Today’s grid mixes direct categories with wordplay, so the safest path is to solve the plainest group first and leave the trickiest phrasing for last.

Best Solving Strategy

Read every tile out loud, watch for words that can sit inside a phrase, and avoid submitting the first four words that merely feel related.

Connections Archive

Connections puzzle #1148 is archived here with all four groups hidden behind the reveal control.

Source Check

Checked the public New York Times Connections JSON feed for May 17, 2026.

More Connections

Previous Answers