NYT Connections Hints for June 16, 2026 (#1185)
Game
BLACK SWAN
EARRINGS
BASKETBALL
COURT
GREEN GODDESS
SUITE
UNICORN
RANCH
BLUE MOON
BLUE CHEESE
RED TAPE
PERFECT STORM
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS GEAR
ENTOURAGE
CAESAR
RETINUE
Hints by Category
CREAMY SALAD DRESSINGS
Back to CategoriesCreamy salad dressings commonly found in American cuisine
BLUE CHEESE
A creamy dressing made with blue cheese, often served with salads or wings.
CAESAR
A creamy dressing based on anchovies, garlic, and Parmesan, used in Caesar salads.
GREEN GODDESS
A creamy dressing made with herbs, anchovies, and sour cream or mayonnaise.
RANCH
A popular creamy dressing made with buttermilk, garlic, and herbs, widely used in the US.
ATTENDANTS
Back to CategoriesGroups of people who attend or accompany someone, often of high status
COURT
The attendants and advisors who surround a monarch or noble.
ENTOURAGE
A group of people who accompany an important person.
RETINUE
A group of servants or followers accompanying a person of rank.
SUITE
A set of attendants or followers, often for a celebrity or VIP.
RARE THINGS, IDIOMATICALLY
Back to CategoriesIdiomatic expressions describing rare or unusual events or things
BLACK SWAN
An unpredictable event with severe consequences, often used in finance and philosophy.
BLUE MOON
A rare event, as in 'once in a blue moon' meaning very infrequently.
PERFECT STORM
A rare combination of events that causes a disastrous outcome.
UNICORN
Something extremely rare or mythical, often used in business for a startup valued at over $1 billion.
WHAT "HOOPS" MIGHT REFER TO
Back to CategoriesThings that 'hoops' can refer to in different contexts
BASKETBALL
The sport uses hoops (baskets) as the goal; 'hoops' is a slang term for basketball.
EARRINGS
Large, circular earrings are often called hoop earrings.
RED TAPE
Bureaucratic obstacles are sometimes described as 'jumping through hoops'.
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS GEAR
In rhythmic gymnastics, athletes use hoops as part of their routines.