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Spoiler-safeMay 23, 2026Puzzle #1077

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for May 23, 2026

Connections puzzle No. 1077 for May 23, 2026 mixes recognizable hairstyles and Marvel characters with a compact language set and a precise Star Wars title pattern.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Styled hair arrangementsStraightforward once the less common hairstyle terms are recognized
Indicating greater willingness or readinessModerate because several entries can serve other grammatical roles
Heroes and figures from MarvelModerate, with ordinary-word readings creating distractions
Complete Star Wars movie titles after “The”Tricky because the entries are broad nouns and one adjective outside the title pattern

Need more than a hint?

Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

How the May 23 board fits together

The central misdirection comes from flexible words such as FIRST, LAST, FORCE and RATHER. The final group requires recognizing a shared title position rather than merely identifying words associated with Star Wars.

Overall difficultyModerate, with a demanding final wordplay groupBiggest trapFIRST, LAST, SOONER and RATHER can look like one broad sequence or preference-based set, while several character names also have ordinary dictionary meanings.Best first moveStart with the four unmistakable hairstyle names, then isolate the Marvel characters before resolving the adverbial and movie-title groups.

Why the board is deceptive

The board becomes more manageable once BEEHIVE, BOUFFANT, CHIGNON and POMPADOUR are recognized as hairstyles.

The remaining words divide among comparative preference language, Marvel characters and words completing specific Star Wars movie titles.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Lock in the four hairstyles first. Next, group the clearly named Marvel characters. With eight words left, separate the terms meaning more readily from the words that follow “THE” in Star Wars movie titles.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Styled hair arrangementsReveal this group

What connects BEEHIVE, BOUFFANT, CHIGNON and POMPADOUR?

BEEHIVE · BOUFFANT · CHIGNON · POMPADOUR

HAIRDOS. All four words name distinctive hairstyles or ways of arranging and shaping hair.

Best anchor: Four recognizable hairstyle names

Indicating greater willingness or readinessReveal this group

What connects FIRST, PREFERABLY, RATHER and SOONER?

FIRST · PREFERABLY · RATHER · SOONER

MORE READILY. Each word can express doing, choosing or accepting something more readily than an alternative.

Best anchor: Terms expressing stronger preference

Heroes and figures from MarvelReveal this group

What connects DAREDEVIL, HAWKEYE, NIGHTCRAWLER and WOLVERINE?

DAREDEVIL · HAWKEYE · NIGHTCRAWLER · WOLVERINE

MARVEL CHARACTERS. DAREDEVIL, HAWKEYE, NIGHTCRAWLER and WOLVERINE are all Marvel characters.

Best anchor: Names belonging to Marvel characters

Complete Star Wars movie titles after “The”Reveal this group

What connects EMPIRE, FORCE, LAST and PHANTOM?

EMPIRE · FORCE · LAST · PHANTOM

WORDS AFTER "THE" IN "STAR WARS" MOVIE TITLES. Each word appears immediately after “THE” in a Star Wars movie title: The Empire Strikes Back, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Phantom Menace.

Best anchor: Words following THE in film titles

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    HAIRDOS

    Four recognizable hairstyle names

  2. 2
    MORE READILY

    Terms expressing stronger preference

  3. 3
    MARVEL CHARACTERS

    Names belonging to Marvel characters

  4. 4
    WORDS AFTER "THE" IN "STAR WARS" MOVIE TITLES

    Words following THE in film titles

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start with the four unmistakable hairstyle names, then isolate the Marvel characters before resolving the adverbial and movie-title groups..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

Straightforward once the less common hairstyle terms are recognized groupStyled hair arrangements
HAIRDOS: Four recognizable hairstyle names
Moderate because several entries can serve other grammatical roles groupIndicating greater willingness or readiness
MORE READILY: Terms expressing stronger preference
Moderate, with ordinary-word readings creating distractions groupHeroes and figures from Marvel
MARVEL CHARACTERS: Names belonging to Marvel characters
Tricky because the entries are broad nouns and one adjective outside the title pattern groupComplete Star Wars movie titles after “The”
WORDS AFTER "THE" IN "STAR WARS" MOVIE TITLES: Words following THE in film titles

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Nora Bennett

An editor focused on spoiler-conscious daily puzzle guides and plain-English solving explanations.

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