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Spoiler-safeJune 4, 2026Puzzle #1089

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for June 4, 2026

The June 4, 2026 Connections board mixes art materials, lively synonyms, fragments of famous music names, and phrases completed by a shared word.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Artists' paint choicesEasy
Spirit and lively flairModerate
Opening words in rap-group namesHard
Completed by the same spooky wordHard

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 1089 overview

Puzzle 1089 was edited by Wyna Liu. The progression moves from a concrete art category to synonyms, incomplete music names, and a phrase-completion group.

Overall difficultyModerate to hardBiggest trapOIL, VINEGAR, SALT, and PEPPER strongly suggest seasonings or table condiments, but selecting them together would take one word from every official category.Best first moveStart with ACRYLIC, GOUACHE, OIL, and TEMPERA, the board's most concrete set of four.

Why the board is deceptive

The cleanest opening is the four-item set of painting media, although OIL can also resemble a general substance rather than a specialized art answer.

The main trap is a tempting food cluster involving OIL, VINEGAR, SALT, and PEPPER; those words belong to four different official groups.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

First, delete the painting media then find the synonyms of ESPRIT. The remaining short words can be read as the beginnings of classic hip-hop group names while leaving the four expressions with GHOST.

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.

Artists' paint choicesReveal this group

What connects ACRYLIC, GOUACHE, OIL and TEMPERA?

ACRYLIC · GOUACHE · OIL · TEMPERA

PAINTING MEDIA. ACRYLIC, GOUACHE, OIL, and TEMPERA are established types of painting media.

Best anchor: Four established media used to make paintings.

Spirit and lively flairReveal this group

What connects GUSTO, PANACHE, VERVE and VINEGAR?

GUSTO · PANACHE · VERVE · VINEGAR

ESPRIT. GUSTO, PANACHE, VERVE, and VINEGAR can each express spirit, energy, liveliness or zest.

Best anchor: Words in the answer can mean lively energy or style.

Opening words in rap-group namesReveal this group

What connects BEASTIE, PUBLIC, RUN and SALT?

BEASTIE · PUBLIC · RUN · SALT

STARTS OF CLASSIC HIP-HOP GROUPS. BEASTIE, PUBLIC, RUN, and SALT begin the names Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, and Salt-N-Pepa.

Best anchor: Each begins the name of a well-known hip-hop act.

Completed by the same spooky wordReveal this group

What connects KITCHEN, PEPPER, TOWN and WRITER?

KITCHEN · PEPPER · TOWN · WRITER

GHOST ___. KITCHEN, PEPPER, TOWN, and WRITER complete the phrases ghost kitchen, ghost pepper, ghost town, and ghostwriter.

Best anchor: When placed after GHOST, each forms a familiar expression.

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
    PAINTING MEDIA

    Four established media used to make paintings.

  2. 2
    ESPRIT

    Words in the answer can mean lively energy or style.

  3. 3
    STARTS OF CLASSIC HIP-HOP GROUPS

    Each begins the name of a well-known hip-hop act.

  4. 4
    GHOST ___

    When placed after GHOST, each forms a familiar expression.

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 ACRYLIC, GOUACHE, OIL, and TEMPERA, the board's most concrete set of four..

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 groupArtists' paint choices
PAINTING MEDIA: Four established media used to make paintings.
Moderate groupSpirit and lively flair
ESPRIT: Words in the answer can mean lively energy or style.
Hard groupOpening words in rap-group names
STARTS OF CLASSIC HIP-HOP GROUPS: Each begins the name of a well-known hip-hop act.
Hard groupCompleted by the same spooky word
GHOST ___: When placed after GHOST, each forms a familiar expression.

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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