In the New York Times game Connections , “quark” in this context isn’t about physics at all – it’s being used as a wordplay entry where the last letter of a standard unit of volume has been changed.

Quick meaning in Connections

On March 25, 2026 (game #1018), “QUARK” appeared in the purple group with the theme:

UNITS OF VOLUME WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

That group was:

  • CUR
  • GALLOP
  • PING
  • QUARK

Each one comes from a real volume word by altering the final letter:

  • CUR → from cup (p → r)
  • GALLOP → from gallon (n → p)
  • PING → from pint (t → g)
  • QUARK → from quart (t → k)

So in Connections , “quark” is just a playful, “wrong” version of quart , chosen so it can fit a themed set about altered measurement words.

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