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Spoiler-safeMay 29, 2026Puzzle #1083

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for May 29, 2026

Connections puzzle No. 1083 mixes a clear geography set with mansion rooms, recognizable odors and four very different interpretations of the same abbreviation.

Guide editorMaya BrooksSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
The world's oceans represented on the boardEasy
Things known for recognizable odorsEasy to moderate
Spaces found in a large traditional residenceModerate
Four interpretations of the letters PAHard

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

Connections No. 1083 Overview

Edited by Wyna Liu. The puzzle is strongest when the solver recognizes that PA changes domain four times: family, geography, chemistry and audio systems.

Overall difficultyModerate, with a demanding abbreviation group and several misleading room-related words.Biggest trapDRAWING, READING, PUBLIC ADDRESS and BO can look like forms of communication, while ARCTIC may suggest a region rather than an ocean.Best first moveStart with ATLANTIC, PACIFIC and SOUTHERN, then test ARCTIC as the fourth ocean.

Why the board is deceptive

The game board covers geography, domestic architecture, chemistry, and wordplay featuring abbreviations.

The cleanest route begins with the oceans and ends by resolving the intentionally broad meanings of PA.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Lock in the four oceans first, gather the unmistakable smell sources next, and then separate the mansion rooms from the four expansions or interpretations of PA.

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.

The world's oceans represented on the boardReveal this group

What connects ARCTIC, ATLANTIC, PACIFIC and SOUTHERN?

ARCTIC · ATLANTIC · PACIFIC · SOUTHERN

OCEANS. Each word is the identifying name of one of the oceans represented in the official group.

Best anchor: Named oceans of the world

Things known for recognizable odorsReveal this group

What connects AMMONIA, BO, DURIAN and WET DOG?

AMMONIA · BO · DURIAN · WET DOG

SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS. These are all sources of odors that are commonly recognized by their distinctive smell.

Best anchor: Recognizable sources of strong odors

Spaces found in a large traditional residenceReveal this group

What connects BILLIARD, DRAWING, POWDER and READING?

BILLIARD · DRAWING · POWDER · READING

KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION. Each word forms the name of a type of room that may be found in a mansion.

Best anchor: Traditional rooms within a mansion

Four interpretations of the letters PAReveal this group

What connects FATHER, PENNSYLVANIA, PROTACTINIUM and PUBLIC ADDRESS?

FATHER · PENNSYLVANIA · PROTACTINIUM · PUBLIC ADDRESS

WHAT "PA" MIGHT REFER TO. PA can point to a father, Pennsylvania, protactinium or a public address system, depending on context.

Best anchor: Different referents represented by PA

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
    OCEANS

    Named oceans of the world

  2. 2
    SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

    Recognizable sources of strong odors

  3. 3
    KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION

    Traditional rooms within a mansion

  4. 4
    WHAT "PA" MIGHT REFER TO

    Different referents represented by PA

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 ATLANTIC, PACIFIC and SOUTHERN, then test ARCTIC as the fourth ocean..

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.

Easy groupThe world's oceans represented on the board
OCEANS: Named oceans of the world
Easy to moderate groupThings known for recognizable odors
SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS: Recognizable sources of strong odors
Moderate groupSpaces found in a large traditional residence
KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION: Traditional rooms within a mansion
Hard groupFour interpretations of the letters PA
WHAT "PA" MIGHT REFER TO: Different referents represented by PA

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

Maya Brooks

Maya focuses on exact category logic, ambiguous overlaps and hints that help without giving the group away.

Read Maya’s profile →