Connections Hints

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — March 12, 2026

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

BARRE
BUNKER
CUCKOO CLOCK
DESERT
FROOT LOOPS
HOURGLASS
METRONOME
MEXICAN FLAG
PENDULUM
REFORMER
SANDBOX
SPIN
STEP
SWING
WEATHER VANE
WINDSHIELD WIPER
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

PLACES TO FIND SANDStraightforward
THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTHModerate
APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSESTricky
FEATURING BIRDSDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

PLACES TO FIND SANDStraightforward
WHERE YOU MIGHT GET GRITTY BETWEEN YOUR TOES OR FINGERS+ 3 more…
THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTHModerate
THESE THINGS NEVER STAY STILL — THEY KEEP GOING SIDE TO SIDE+ 3 more…
APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSESTricky
FITNESS CLASSES NAMED AFTER THE EQUIPMENT YOU USE+ 3 more…
FEATURING BIRDSDevious
EACH ONE PROMINENTLY FEATURES A BIRD IN ITS DESIGN OR IDENTITY+ 3 more…
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Full solution
PLACES TO FIND SANDStraightforward
BUNKER,DESERT,HOURGLASS,SANDBOX

BUNKER (golf sand trap), DESERT (sandy landscape), HOURGLASS (sand flows through it), and SANDBOX (filled with sand for play) are all places where sand is found.

THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTHModerate
METRONOME,PENDULUM,SWING,WINDSHIELD WIPER

METRONOME, PENDULUM, SWING, and WINDSHIELD WIPER all move back and forth in a repeated oscillating motion.

APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSESTricky
BARRE,REFORMER,SPIN,STEP

BARRE (ballet-inspired bar class), REFORMER (Pilates machine class), SPIN (stationary bike class), and STEP (step platform class) are all exercise classes named after their apparatus.

FEATURING BIRDSDevious
CUCKOO CLOCK,FROOT LOOPS,MEXICAN FLAG,WEATHER VANE

CUCKOO CLOCK (cuckoo bird pops out), FROOT LOOPS (Toucan Sam is the mascot), MEXICAN FLAG (eagle eating a serpent), and WEATHER VANE (often shaped like a rooster) all feature birds.

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