Today’s NYT Connections puzzle for Sunday, May 24, is game number 1078, and it appears to be one of the easier rounds of the week. The puzzle uses a mix of farm related words, protest actions, ritual objects, and a purple category built around possessive adjective wordplay.
The 16 words in today’s grid are RATTLE, PEN, STAFF, HISS, HERB, SHED, ITSY, MASK, STRIKE, DRUM, STABLE, MARCH, RALLY, MYA, PICKET, and COOP. Several of the groups are direct enough that many players may spot them quickly, especially the farm and protest categories.
The hardest group depends on seeing hidden possessive adjectives
The yellow group is FARM FIXTURES. The four answers are COOP, PEN, SHED, and STABLE. These are all places or structures commonly found around a farm, which makes this one of the most straightforward sets in today’s puzzle.
The green group is LABOR PROTEST ACTIONS. The answers are MARCH, PICKET, RALLY, and STRIKE. This group is also fairly clear once you notice that the words are not being used as random actions, but as terms connected to labor disputes and public demonstrations.
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Farm fixtures | COOP, PEN, SHED, STABLE |
| Green | Labor protest actions | MARCH, PICKET, RALLY, STRIKE |
| Blue | Objects used in ritual performances | DRUM, MASK, RATTLE, STAFF |
| Purple | Possessive adjectives plus a letter | HERB, HISS, ITSY, MYA |
The blue group is OBJECTS USED IN RITUAL PERFORMANCES. The answers are DRUM, MASK, RATTLE, and STAFF. This could briefly mislead players because DRUM and RATTLE both suggest percussion or sound, but the full set points toward ceremonial or ritual objects.
The purple group is the trickiest part of today’s puzzle. Its category is POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES PLUS A LETTER. The answers are HERB, HISS, ITSY, and MYA. Each word begins with or resembles a possessive adjective with one extra letter added. That kind of wordplay has appeared in past Connections puzzles, and it often ends up in the purple slot because it requires a more abstract reading.
TechRadar rated today’s puzzle as easy and reported a perfect score. The article also noted that the purple group fits a pattern seen in earlier puzzles, where possessive adjective based wordplay has been used as the hardest category.
For players who want only a hint before solving, the safest route is to look first for places on a farm and then for words linked to labor protests. After those are removed, the ritual object group becomes clearer, leaving the possessive adjective trick for last.
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