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◆ The New York Times

Connections Hints, Answers & Strategy Guide

Sort 16 words into 4 thematic groups.

Connections is the New York Times' daily grouping puzzle: sixteen words to sort into four hidden groups of four, with only four mistakes allowed. The challenge is the overlap — words that look like they belong together often don't, and the purple group is usually the trap. A new grid drops daily. TECHi keeps spoiler-safe hints and today's groups, yesterday's answers, and an evergreen strategy guide.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Jump straight to today's (October 6, 2026) hintsCheck yesterday

◆ Three pages, one game

Pick your moment.

Open today’s hints when you are solving now, jump to yesterday if you missed a day, or use the guide when you want rules and strategy.

Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.

Recent Connections answers
DatePuzzleAnswer
Mon, Oct 5, 2026Connections #1212CALM: CONTENT, PEACEFUL, PLACID, SERENE. ADJECTIVES FOR MATURE CONTENT: EXPLICIT, GRAPHIC, STRONG, SUGGESTIVE. KINDS OF BOARDS: ADVISORY, CHESS, IRONING, MESSAGE. ENDING IN WAYS TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE: PARENT, PLEASE, SAPPHIRE, SLOAN.
Sun, Oct 4, 2026Connections #1211CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT: BUNCH, HEAP, LOT, STACK. TABLE TENNIS NEEDS: BALL, NET, PADDLE, TABLE. PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME: COLLAR, GAVEL, ROBE, WIG. SILENT ___: AUCTION, FILM, PARTNER, TREATMENT.
Sat, Oct 3, 2026Connections #1210STARTING WITH TERMS FOR "TOILET": CAN OPENER, HEAD WAITER, JOHN DENVER, W.C. FIELDS. ENDING IN MUSICALS: ELBOW GREASE, FAT CATS, LINDA HAMILTON, SOMETHING WICKED. STARTING WITH U.S. MUSEUMS: BROAD BEAN, GETTY IMAGES, MET HALFWAY, WHITNEY HOUSTON. ENDING IN FANTASY CREATURES: DIET SPRITE, MERV GRIFFIN, NY GIANT, RIVER PHOENIX.
Fri, Oct 2, 2026Connections #1209FINANCE: BACK, BANKROLL, FUND, SUPPORT. FINGERS: INDEX, LITTLE, MIDDLE, RING. CUSTOMARY: COMMON, ROUTINE, STANDARD, STOCK. PRIME ___: NUMBER, REAL ESTATE, RIB, TIME.
Thu, Oct 1, 2026Connections #1208PUT: PLACE, POSITION, SITUATE, STICK. DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS: CHEST, NECK, SLEEVE, WAIST. 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE": DECEMBERISTS, NATIONAL, SHINS, WALKMEN. STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES: ACRO, CROSS, KEN, SUD.
Wed, Sep 30, 2026Connections #1207SECURITIES: BOND, FUTURE, OPTION, STOCK. THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED): ETCH A SKETCH, MARTINI, SPRAY PAINT, TAMBOURINE. GANGSTER MOVIES: BUGSY, CASINO, DONNIE BRASCO, SCARFACE. STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS: DECENT, NOVELTY, OCTOPUSSY, SEPTUM.
Tue, Sep 29, 2026Connections #1206SECLUDED: HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET, TUCKED AWAY. RIVER FEATURES: DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH, STREAM BED. FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS: FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS, TOY. PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, ORAL PHASE.
Mon, Sep 28, 2026Connections #1205THINGS WITH STALKS: BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT. OYSTER CONDIMENTS: HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO. DODGE MODELS: CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER. THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS: ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING.
Sun, Sep 27, 2026Connections #1204SCULPTURE MEDIA: BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE, PLASTER. RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS: BANQUETTE, BOOTH, CHAIR, STOOL. TELECOM: CARRIER, NETWORK, OPERATOR, PROVIDER. ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES: BBQING, HOMING, LOHAN, WU-TANG.
Sat, Sep 26, 2026Connections #1203BREATH FRESHENERS: GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, SPRAY. THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY: FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, WASH. FEATURES OF WOOD: BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, RINGS. "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS: BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER.
Fri, Sep 25, 2026Connections #1202LUXE: BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, SWANK. PARTS OF A MECHANICAL CLOCK: ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, SPRING. FAMOUS DANS: AYKROYD, LEVY, RATHER, SAVAGE. TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTER: BORDER, CLASSY, FOAMILY, GENIUS.
Thu, Sep 24, 2026Connections #1201PARTS OF A VAMPIRE COSTUME: CAPE, FACE PAINT, FAKE BLOOD, FANGS. THINGS WITH SPRING/S: BOBBLEHEAD, POGO STICK, SNAKES IN A CAN, TRAMPOLINE. FEATURING POINTING: CREATION OF ADAM, FOAM FINGER, I'M WITH STUPID SHIRT, UNCLE SAM. ANAGRAMS: BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR.
Wed, Sep 23, 2026Connections #1200THINGS YOU GRAB BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE: KEYS, PHONE, SUNGLASSES, WALLET. WEBSITE HURDLES: AGE VERIFICATION, CAPTCHA, COOKIE CONSENT, PAYWALL. THINGS THAT COME IN CANS: CONDENSED MILK, PAINT, SHAVING CREAM, SPAM. ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "TERM": BITCOIN, RECORD LABEL, RUB-A-DUB, SURINAME.
Tue, Sep 22, 2026Connections #1199DEMONSTRATIVES: THAT, THESE, THIS, THOSE. EMBELLISHMENT: ACCENT, DETAIL, FLOURISH, TOUCH. OPTIONS ON A MULTIPLE CHOICE SURVEY: AGREE, DISAGREE, NEUTRAL, OTHER. BEVERAGES WITH ACUTE ACCENTS REMOVED: CAFE, PATRON, ROSE, THE.

◆ Strategy

How to Win at Connections

Connections is less about one right word and more about avoiding tempting near-misses. Build groups slowly, then test the category before locking it.

Find obvious pairs first

Two words that clearly belong together can reveal a category without forcing an early mistake.

Watch for decoys

If five words seem related, one is probably bait. Name the category before you submit four cards.

Save guesses for the end

Do not spend guesses testing hunches. Use the board to eliminate categories until one group is almost forced.

◆ FAQ

Connections questions, answered

How many groups are in Connections?
Connections asks you to sort sixteen words into four groups of four, with each group sharing a hidden theme.
Why use hints before the Connections answer?
Hints can point to a category without spoiling every card, which is safer than jumping straight to the full solution.

More Daily Puzzles

Explore our other games and check the date shown on each edition.