Today’s word-game hints, updated daily
HintCorner

Daily word-game guide

Verified archive for June 9, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1094

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for June 9, 2026

Connections puzzle #1094 for June 9, 2026 mixes a direct secrecy set with symbolic innocence, superscript notation, and informal names for musical instruments.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

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 #1094 Overview

Removing the secrecy group cleans up the board quite a bit. By the late game, knowing to take the BONE and SKINS as slang for instruments and not as body parts is the challenge, while AXE and KEYS offer stronger musical entries.

Overall difficultyModerate, with a demanding slang group and several words that invite misleading everyday associations.Biggest trapANGEL, BABE, DOVE, and LAMB can all describe people, while AXE, BONE, KEYS, and SKINS conceal their shared musical slang sense.Best first moveStart with PASSWORD, SECRET, SPOILER, and SURPRISE because all four fit a clear rule about information that should remain unrevealed.

Why the board is deceptive

The clearest opening lies in four kinds of information or knowledge that people are generally expected not to reveal.

The remaining words divide into symbols of innocence, items shown in superscript, and slang terms for musical instruments.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Lock in PASSWORD, SECRET, SPOILER, and SURPRISE first. Next, separate ANGEL, BABE, DOVE, and LAMB as innocence symbols, then use notation and musical slang to resolve the final eight.

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.

Innocent ImagesReveal this group

What connects ANGEL, BABE, DOVE and LAMB?

ANGEL · BABE · DOVE · LAMB

SYMBOLS OF INNOCENCE. Each can stand for a well-known symbol or image of innocence, rather than simply name a being or animal.

Best anchor: Think figuratively about purity and harmlessness.

Keep It Under WrapsReveal this group

What connects PASSWORD, SECRET, SPOILER and SURPRISE?

PASSWORD · SECRET · SPOILER · SURPRISE

THINGS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO REVEAL. These are all things that lose their security, confidentiality, impact, or enjoyment when revealed.

Best anchor: Consider information that should stay undisclosed.

Raised CharactersReveal this group

What connects ASTERISK, DEGREE, EXPONENT and TRADEMARK?

ASTERISK · DEGREE · EXPONENT · TRADEMARK

THINGS REPRESENTED IN SUPERSCRIPT. Each item can be represented by a small symbol, number, or mark positioned above the normal text line.

Best anchor: Picture marks and characters raised above baseline text.

Instrument NicknamesReveal this group

What connects AXE, BONE, KEYS and SKINS?

AXE · BONE · KEYS · SKINS

SLANG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. Each word is used informally for a musical instrument: guitar, trombone, keyboard, or drums, respectively.

Best anchor: Musicians use the words provided as terminology.

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
    SYMBOLS OF INNOCENCE

    Think figuratively about purity and harmlessness.

  2. 2
    THINGS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO REVEAL

    Consider information that should stay undisclosed.

  3. 3
    THINGS REPRESENTED IN SUPERSCRIPT

    Picture marks and characters raised above baseline text.

  4. 4
    SLANG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

    Musicians use the words provided as terminology.

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 PASSWORD, SECRET, SPOILER, and SURPRISE because all four fit a clear rule about information that should remain unrevealed..

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 figurative theme is considered. groupInnocent Images
SYMBOLS OF INNOCENCE: Think figuratively about purity and harmlessness.
The most direct group and the best place to begin. groupKeep It Under Wraps
THINGS YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO REVEAL: Consider information that should stay undisclosed.
Moderate because the words come from several different notation contexts. groupRaised Characters
THINGS REPRESENTED IN SUPERSCRIPT: Picture marks and characters raised above baseline text.
Hardest because several entries strongly suggest nonmusical meanings. groupInstrument Nicknames
SLANG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: Musicians use the words provided as terminology.

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.

Read Nora’s profile →