Looking for NYT Connections answers today? This guide gives you the full solution for Thursday, May 7, 2026, including the category names, word groups, and a quick explanation of how each set works.
Today’s puzzle is Connections #1061. It includes a mix of fishing gear, words for a crowd, basketball rule violations, and things you can control with up and down buttons. Several words are tricky because they have more than one meaning, which makes this puzzle easy to second-guess.
Quick Answer
The NYT Connections answers today are Fishing Gear, Multitude, Commit a Basketball Infraction, and Controlled With Up/Down Buttons. The full word groups are listed below with simple explanations.
Today’s Connections Answers
Here are the complete answers for May 7, 2026, puzzle #1061.
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Fishing Gear | FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET |
| Green | Multitude | DROVE, HOST, MASS, PACK |
| Blue | Commit a Basketball Infraction | CARRY, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL |
| Purple | Controlled With Up/Down Buttons | CAR WINDOW, CHANNEL, ELEVATOR, VOLUME |
Yellow Answer: Fishing Gear
The yellow group is Fishing Gear.
The four answers are:
• FLY
• HOOK
• LINE
• NET
This group is about items used in fishing. The word fly may be the sneaky one because it can also mean an insect or the act of moving through the air.
In this puzzle, fly points to fly fishing. Once you see hook, line, and net, the fishing theme becomes much clearer.
Green Answer: Multitude
The green group is Multitude.
The four answers are:
• DROVE
• HOST
• MASS
• PACK
Each word can describe a large number or group. For example, a host of people means many people. A pack can mean a group of animals or people.
This group can be tricky because these words also have common everyday meanings. Mass can mean size, weight, or a religious service, but here it means a large amount.
Blue Answer: Commit a Basketball Infraction
The blue group is Commit a Basketball Infraction.
The four answers are:
• CARRY
• DOUBLE-DRIBBLE
• GOALTEND
• TRAVEL
These are all illegal actions in basketball. A referee may stop play if a player commits one of these violations.
This group is easier if you know basketball terms. Travel and carry may look like normal verbs at first, but they are rule violations in this context.
Purple Answer: Controlled With Up/Down Buttons
The purple group is Controlled With Up/Down Buttons.
The four answers are:
• CAR WINDOW
• CHANNEL
• ELEVATOR
• VOLUME
Each item can be moved or changed with up and down controls. You can roll a car window up or down. You can also change a channel or volume with up and down buttons.
This is the classic purple-style twist. The words do not share a simple dictionary meaning. Instead, they connect through how people use them.
Why Today’s Puzzle Is Tricky
Today’s puzzle uses words that can fit more than one idea. That is what makes the grid feel simple at first, then harder as you start grouping.
For example, travel, fly, carry, and drove all suggest movement. But they do not belong together. Only travel and carry work in the basketball group.
The puzzle also mixes nouns and verbs. That makes it important to ask how each word is being used before you lock in a group.
Best Solving Order for Today
A good solving path is to start with the clearest category. For many players, that is the basketball group.
Try this order:
• First, find the basketball violations.
• Next, look for words meaning “many.”
• Then, spot the fishing gear.
• Last, solve the up/down controls group.
This order helps remove the biggest traps. It also leaves the more abstract purple group for the end.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not group words only because they seem related to movement. Fly, travel, carry, and drove may look connected, but that set is a trap.
Also, be careful with words that have several meanings. Fly does not mean flying here. Travel does not mean taking a trip here.
Before you submit, try to name the category in a clear phrase. If your category sounds vague, the group may not be right.
FAQ
What are the NYT Connections answers today?
The answers are FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET; DROVE, HOST, MASS, PACK; CARRY, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL; and CAR WINDOW, CHANNEL, ELEVATOR, VOLUME.
What is today’s Connections puzzle number?
Today’s puzzle for Thursday, May 7, 2026, is Connections #1061.
What is the hardest group today?
The purple group is likely the hardest. It connects things controlled with up and down buttons, which is less direct than the other categories.
What does the yellow group mean today?
The yellow group is Fishing Gear. The answers are FLY, HOOK, LINE, and NET.
What does the blue group mean today?
The blue group is about basketball violations. The answers are CARRY, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, and TRAVEL.
How should I solve Connections faster?
Look for the most specific four-word group first. Then remove those words and test the remaining words by category, not by loose association.
Final Thoughts
Today’s Connections puzzle is clever because it hides simple groups behind flexible words. The best move is to slow down and check each meaning before guessing.
Marcus Hill is a USA-focused content writer for Wishexx who specializes in clear, reader-friendly explainers about word meanings, slang, abbreviations, internet terms, tech language, grammar topics, and everyday definitions. His work covers a wide range of subjects, including chat slang, social media phrases, AI terms, business vocabulary, education terms, medical abbreviations, and practical English usage, helping readers quickly understand what a word or phrase means and how it is used in real life.
At Wishexx, Marcus writes with a simple, helpful style designed for readers in the USA and other English-speaking countries. He focuses on making confusing terms feel easy, whether the topic is modern slang, online culture, common abbreviations, or everyday language questions. His goal is to turn complex or unfamiliar words into clear, useful explanations that readers can trust, understand fast, and apply with confidence.