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Spoiler-safeJune 6, 2026Puzzle #1091

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for June 6, 2026

Connections puzzle No. 1091 for June 6, 2026 mixes structural nouns, emotion-related verbs, lizard names, and words that precede TABLE. The main challenge is separating flexible words such as DISPLAY, MONITOR, REGISTER, POST, and ROUND from their tempting alternate associations.

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Upright supportsMost direct after the concrete animal set is removed
Show a feelingModerate because several entries have strong noun senses
Reptile varietiesConcrete but complicated by words with non-animal meanings
Words before TABLETrickiest because the completed phrases refer to different kinds of tables

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 June 6 board fits together

Edited by Wyna Liu. The board relies on ordinary words with multiple grammatical roles: MONITOR and DISPLAY can evoke technology, REGISTER can be a noun, and POST can suggest publishing. The final phrase group also mixes physical tables with the multiplication-focused TIMES TABLE.

Overall difficultyModerate, with several misleading noun and verb overlapsBiggest trapMONITOR, REGISTER, DISPLAY, and DRAFTING can suggest screens, records, or workplace activity, while POLE and STAKE may pull attention toward outdoor objects.Best first moveStart with BASILISK, DRAGON, MONITOR, and SKINK because their shared lizard identity is the board's most concrete relationship.

Why the board is deceptive

The cleanest entry point is the lizard set, whose four members form a specific and self-contained category despite DRAGON and MONITOR having familiar non-animal senses.

After removing the reptiles, identify four upright supports, then separate the emotion verbs from the remaining words that complete familiar phrases ending in TABLE.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Clear BASILISK, DRAGON, MONITOR, and SKINK first. Next collect POLE, POST, SHAFT, and STAKE as forms of pillar. The remaining split becomes clearer: BETRAY, DISPLAY, EXPRESS, and REGISTER can indicate emotions, while DINNER, DRAFTING, ROUND, and TIMES all precede TABLE.

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.

Upright supportsReveal this group

What connects POLE, POST, SHAFT and STAKE?

POLE · POST · SHAFT · STAKE

PILLAR. Each word can name a long, upright object that serves as or resembles a pillar or support.

Best anchor: Look for four upright supporting forms.

Show a feelingReveal this group

What connects BETRAY, DISPLAY, EXPRESS and REGISTER?

BETRAY · DISPLAY · EXPRESS · REGISTER

INDICATE, AS EMOTIONS. Each verb can describe an emotion becoming apparent through expression, behavior, voice, or reaction.

Best anchor: Consider how feelings become outwardly noticeable.

Reptile varietiesReveal this group

What connects BASILISK, DRAGON, MONITOR and SKINK?

BASILISK · DRAGON · MONITOR · SKINK

KINDS OF LIZARDS. All four words name kinds of lizards, even though several also carry familiar mythical or technological associations.

Best anchor: Read MONITOR and DRAGON as animal names.

Words before TABLEReveal this group

What connects DINNER, DRAFTING, ROUND and TIMES?

DINNER · DRAFTING · ROUND · TIMES

___ TABLE. Each answer forms a familiar expression when followed by TABLE: dinner table, drafting table, round table, and times table.

Best anchor: Add the same noun after all four words.

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
    PILLAR

    Look for four upright supporting forms.

  2. 2
    INDICATE, AS EMOTIONS

    Consider how feelings become outwardly noticeable.

  3. 3
    KINDS OF LIZARDS

    Read MONITOR and DRAGON as animal names.

  4. 4
    ___ TABLE

    Add the same noun after all four words.

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 BASILISK, DRAGON, MONITOR, and SKINK because their shared lizard identity is the board's most concrete relationship..

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.

Most direct after the concrete animal set is removed groupUpright supports
PILLAR: Look for four upright supporting forms.
Moderate because several entries have strong noun senses groupShow a feeling
INDICATE, AS EMOTIONS: Consider how feelings become outwardly noticeable.
Concrete but complicated by words with non-animal meanings groupReptile varieties
KINDS OF LIZARDS: Read MONITOR and DRAGON as animal names.
Trickiest because the completed phrases refer to different kinds of tables groupWords before TABLE
___ TABLE: Add the same noun after all four words.

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

Ethan Park

Ethan turns word patterns and solving routes into concise, accessible guidance for daily players.

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