Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 14, No. 1,038.

We have our dedicated Connections answers page for a complete archive of past solutions. Scroll to the bottom, and you’ll see all the answers from the NYT Connections Solutions History. We’ve been keeping track, so you don’t have to.

How to Use NYT Connections Hints (Step-by-Step Guide)

Not everyone wants to jump straight to the answers. Many players prefer solving the puzzle on their own — and that’s where hints become useful.

On this page, you’ll find simple clues for each category to help you solve today’s NYT Connections puzzle step-by-step without spoilers. You can also bookmark this page for daily help.

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle by The New York Times where players group 16 words into 4 sets based on a shared connection.

Each group contains 4 related words, and your goal is to find all groups with limited mistakes.

How to Use Hints Effectively

If you want to solve the puzzle yourself, follow these steps:

1. Start with Quick Hints

Begin with short clues instead of looking at full answers.

These hints:

• give you direction
• don’t reveal exact groups
• help you guess the category

2. Check the Category Names

If you’re still stuck, reveal the category titles.

This helps you:

• understand the pattern
• connect words faster

3. Reveal Answers (Last Option)

Only check answers if you’re completely stuck.

This way:

• you still learn the logic
• improve your skills for next puzzles

Understanding Connections Difficulty Levels

Each group is color-coded based on difficulty:

• Yellow – Easy and obvious
• Green – Slightly tricky
• Blue – Requires thinking or trivia
• Purple – Most difficult

Always try solving Yellow first.

How the Game Works

• You get 16 words
• You must create 4 groups of 4 words
• Each group shares a hidden connection
• You can only make a limited number of mistakes

Once a group is correct, it gets highlighted with a color.

Tips to Solve NYT Connections Faster

Find easy groups first

Start with obvious categories like objects or common items.

Avoid common traps

Some words look similar but belong to different groups.

Use elimination

After solving one group, the remaining words become easier.

Improve your knowledge

Some puzzles require general knowledge or word patterns.

Final Thoughts

Using hints the right way makes NYT Connections more enjoyable and helps you improve over time. Instead of directly checking answers, try solving the puzzle step-by-step using clues.