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Connections Hints for May 29, 2026 #1082

Pro tip: Tap each section to reveal answers one at a time. If you just need a gentle hint, get the connection hint for May 29, 2026 #1082

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Navigation tip: Use the arrows below to browse through past puzzles. Each puzzle is organized from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple) categories.

Yellow Category — May 29, 2026

Green Category — May 29, 2026

Blue Category — May 29, 2026

Purple Category — May 29, 2026

Tricky Words in Today's Connections

Definitions for the most unusual words in today's puzzle

Purple group — WHAT "PA" MIGHT REFER TO

Why is “PROTACTINIUM” in the Purple group?

a radioactive, metallic element with the symbol Pa

Green group — SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

Why is “DURIAN” in the Green group?

a tropical fruit known for its strong, unpleasant odor

Word definitions

Tricky words in today's Connections (May 29, 2026)

Several words in today's puzzle have multiple meanings or obscure definitions that can throw you off. Here's what each one means in the context of this Connections grid.

BO
Definition: body odor
Why it's tricky: can be mistaken for a prefix or abbreviation
PA
Definition: multiple possible meanings including father, Pennsylvania, and public address
Why it's tricky: highly ambiguous abbreviation with multiple common uses
DRAWING
Definition: a room in a mansion
Why it's tricky: can be mistaken for the act of creating art
PROTACTINIUM
Definition: a chemical element
Why it's tricky: obscure chemical element with an unusual name

Connections #1082 explained

Why these words connect (May 29, 2026)

Understanding the logic behind each group helps you spot similar patterns in future puzzles. Here's the reasoning for every category in today's Connections.

Yellow group: OCEANS

These are all the world's major oceans, which cover over 70% of the Earth's surface and are home to a diverse range of marine life, including the Arctic Ocean, which is the smallest and coldest, and the Pacific Ocean, which is the largest and deepest.

Green group: SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

These are all things that are known for having strong, distinctive smells, including ammonia, which is a pungent chemical compound, and durian, which is a tropical fruit infamous for its unpleasant odor, as well as body odor and the smell of a wet dog.

Blue group: KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION

These are all types of rooms that might be found in a grand mansion, including a billiard room, which is a space for recreational activities, and a powder room, which is a small room for personal grooming, as well as a drawing room and a reading room, which are spaces for relaxation and entertainment.

Purple group: WHAT "PA" MIGHT REFER TO

These are all things that the abbreviation 'PA' might refer to, including Pennsylvania, which is a state in the United States, and public address, which is a system for amplifying sound, as well as the chemical element protactinium and the word 'father', which is a common term for a male parent.

Red herrings and trap words explained

These words were designed to mislead you. Understanding why they don't belong where you first think sharpens your game for tomorrow.

READING

Seems like it belongs to: SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

Actually belongs to: KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION

while reading can be associated with books and libraries, which might have a musty smell, the word 'reading' in this context refers to a type of room

BILLIARD

Seems like it belongs to: SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

Actually belongs to: KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION

billiard rooms might have a distinct smell due to the tables and equipment, but the word 'billiard' in this context refers to a type of room

Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained

These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.

Why “READING” didn't go with SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

Seems like: SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS → Actually: KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION

while reading can be associated with books and libraries, which might have a musty smell, the word 'reading' in this context refers to a type of room

Why “BILLIARD” didn't go with SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS

Seems like: SOURCES OF DISTINCTIVE SMELLS → Actually: KINDS OF ROOMS IN A MANSION

billiard rooms might have a distinct smell due to the tables and equipment, but the word 'billiard' in this context refers to a type of room

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