Connections Hints

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — March 21, 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.

BISHOP
BLUNT
CAPTURE
CROWN
FRANK
FROST
GOAL
JUMP
KING
MARK
OBJECT
PLAIN
POINT
POUND
RICH
STRAIGHT
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Themes

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

DIRECTStraightforward
TARGETModerate
CHECKERS TERMSTricky
20TH CENTURY AMERICAN POETSDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

DIRECTStraightforward
WORDS MEANING HONEST AND TO-THE-POINT+ 3 more…
TARGETModerate
WHAT YOU'RE AIMING FOR+ 3 more…
CHECKERS TERMSTricky
MOVES AND MOMENTS ON A RED-AND-BLACK BOARD+ 3 more…
20TH CENTURY AMERICAN POETSDevious
SURNAMES OF CELEBRATED AMERICAN POETS FROM THE 1900S+ 3 more…
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Full solution
DIRECTStraightforward
BLUNT,FRANK,PLAIN,STRAIGHT

BLUNT, FRANK, PLAIN, and STRAIGHT all mean direct or straightforward in speech or manner.

TARGETModerate
GOAL,MARK,OBJECT,POINT

GOAL, MARK, OBJECT, and POINT all mean a target or aim — the thing you're trying to reach or achieve.

CHECKERS TERMSTricky
CAPTURE,CROWN,JUMP,KING

CAPTURE, CROWN, JUMP, and KING are all terms used in the game of checkers.

20TH CENTURY AMERICAN POETSDevious
BISHOP,FROST,POUND,RICH

BISHOP (Elizabeth), FROST (Robert), POUND (Ezra), and RICH (Adrienne) are all notable 20th century American poets.

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