Does the March 12, 2026 (#1005) edition of NYT Connections have you scratching your head? Here are some clues and hints to help you solve today’s puzzle and keep your daily streak alive.

Connections by The New York Times is a unique word game that fans can enjoy online for free. The puzzle features an array of 16 randomly arranged words that are connected by some hidden themes. To solve it, players must identify which words are linked to the same theme and place them in a single group. The game is over when a player successfully sorts the words into groups of four. However, the players will get only four guesses to make the choices. Furthermore, Connections also offers a helpful “one away…” hint.

Check out the hints and answers for the March 12 Connections puzzle below.

Connections hints for March 12

All 16 words in today’s puzzle are: REFORMER, STEP, METRONOME, BARRE, SWING, MEXICAN FLAG, CUCKOO CLOCK, BUNKER, WINDSHIELD WIPER, SANDBOX, HOURGLASS, DESERT, FROOT LOOPS, WEATHER VANE, PENDULUM, and SPIN.

Here are some hints for each group:

• Yellow Group: The words in this group are to sand.


• Green Group: This collection includes things that move in a particular way.


• Blue Group: This set includes words that are associated with physical activities.


• Purple Group: The words in this group are to birds.

What are the Connections answers for today, March 12?

Without further ado, here are the answers for the March 12 NYT Connections puzzle:

Yellow Group: Places To Find Sand – BUNKER, DESERT, HOURGLASS, and SANDBOX.

Green Group: Things That Move Back And Forth – METRONOME, PENDULUM, SWING, and WINDSHIELD WIPER.

Blue Group: Apparatus-Based Exercise Classes – BARRE, REFORMER, SPIN, and STEP.

Purple Group: Featuring Birds – CUCKOO CLOCK, FROOT LOOPS, MEXICAN FLAG, and WEATHER VANE.

In addition to Connections, fans can play multiple other unique puzzles on The New York Times Games. These include Wordle, Strands, Sudoku, Pips, and Tiles, to name just a few.