◆ 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: sort sixteen words into four groups of four before making four mistakes. Words can overlap in meaning, so test all four cards against the proposed connection. TECHi provides dated hints, group explanations, past answers and a guide to the rules.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Today
Wednesday
November 4, 2026
Check the date before opening a reveal. Today’s page is for active solving; yesterday’s page is for catching up without mixing spoilers.
◆ 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.
- Today01
Connections Today: November 4, 2026
Hints, then the answer, then the why. In that order.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Open today's hints → - Yesterday02
Connections Yesterday: November 3, 2026
In case you missed it, yesterday's full solve.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Open yesterday → - Tutorial03
How to Play Connections
The full ruleset and our best opening tips.
Open guide →
Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 3, 2026 | Connections #1241 | KEEP GOING: CARRY ON, CONTINUE, PROCEED, RESUME. THINGS WITH WHEELS: OFFICE CHAIR, ROLLER BAG, SHOPPING CART, STROLLER. THINGS A SERVER BRINGS AT A RESTAURANT: CHECK, FOOD, MENU, TAP WATER. ENDING IN MENU BAR HEADINGS: CREDIT, INTERVIEW, PROFILE, WHELP. |
| Mon, Nov 2, 2026 | Connections #1240 | THINGS TO BRING ON A TREK: BACKPACK, COMPASS, HIKING BOOTS, WATER BOTTLE. ANGER: INCENSE, NETTLE, PIQUE, WIND UP. MIST MAKERS: DRY ICE, FOG MACHINE, HUMIDIFIER, WATERFALL. THINGS WITH MIRRORS: DISCO BALL, DRESSING ROOM, KALEIDOSCOPE, MEDICINE CABINET. |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | Connections #1239 | KINDS OF TEETH: BICUSPID, CANINE, INCISOR, MOLAR. KINDS OF LOVE: BROTHERLY, PUPPY, SELF, UNREQUITED. ENTHUSIAST: FIEND, HEAD, HOUND, LOVER. SYNONYMS FOR "SOAKED" WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED: DOGGY, MATURATED, TRENCHED, TRIPPING. |
| Sat, Oct 31, 2026 | Connections #1238 | WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD: GNARLY, KILLER, SICK, WICKED. MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS: DIRTY, DRY, SHAKEN, UP. THINGS WITH STRINGS: GUITAR, MARIONETTE, TASSEL, TENNIS RACKET. STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS: DOWNFALL, SHAKESPEARE, SITCOM, STAYCATION. |
| Fri, Oct 30, 2026 | Connections #1237 | PARTS OF A CAMERA: FLASH, LENS, SHUTTER, VIEWFINDER. AROUND A THEATER STAGE: BACKDROP, CURTAIN, PIT, WINGS. THROW ___: HANDS, PILLOW, RUG, SHADE. FRUIT WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED: DEMON, DRAPE, GLUM, GRANGE. |
| Thu, Oct 29, 2026 | Connections #1236 | THINGS YOU PUT COINS INTO: PARKING METER, PAYPHONE, PIGGY BANK, WISHING WELL. ASSOCIATED WITH PENGUINS: ANTARCTICA, EMPEROR, TUXEDO, WADDLE. ENDS OF FAMOUS FONTS: GOTHIC, ROMAN, SANS, TYPEWRITER. THINGS THAT FEATURE THREE COLORS: CALICO, CANDY CORN, NEAPOLITAN, TRAFFIC LIGHT. |
| Wed, Oct 28, 2026 | Connections #1235 | ROMANTIC LIKING: ATTRACTION, CRUSH, FEELINGS, INTEREST. COMPONENTS OF AN EMAIL: ATTACHMENT, BODY, SIGNATURE, SUBJECT. NASA MARS ROVERS: CURIOSITY, OPPORTUNITY, PERSEVERANCE, SPIRIT. HOMOPHONES OF PATHS: COARSE, RODE, ROUT, WEIGH. |
| Tue, Oct 27, 2026 | Connections #1234 | MESS (WITH): FIDDLE, MEDDLE, TINKER, TRIFLE. PARTS OF THE EAR: ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, STIRRUP. ___ BELL: DIVING, JINGLE, LIBERTY, TACO. BELL ___: BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER. |
| Mon, Oct 26, 2026 | Connections #1233 | RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?": CHILLING, MANAGING, NOT BAD, SAME OLD. KINDS OF MATS: PRAYER, WELCOME, WRESTLING, YOGA. AKC DOG BREED GROUPS: HERDING, HOUND, SPORTING, TOY. HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED: HALLOWEEK, HOSTED, JAWN, PSYCHS. |
| Sun, Oct 25, 2026 | Connections #1232 | STEAL: BOOST, PALM, POCKET, SWIPE. PASTA SHAPES: BOW TIE, ELBOW, SHELL, WAGON WHEEL. FICTIONAL TOMS: RIPLEY, SAWYER, SWIFT, THUMB. THINGS THAT CAN BE SNAPPED: FINGERS, FOOTBALL, GLOW STICK, RUBBER BAND. |
| Sat, Oct 24, 2026 | Connections #1231 | KINDS OF STRIPS: BACON, COMIC, FILM, MÖBIUS. THINGS ON STICKS: HOBBY HORSE, PINWHEEL, POPSICLE, SPARKLER. ONLINE AD FORMATS: BANNER, INTERSTITIAL, OVERLAY, POP-UP. ___ BAR: CANDY, SALAD, SPACE, SPORTS. |
| Fri, Oct 23, 2026 | Connections #1230 | FORTHRIGHT: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, VOCAL. THINGS YOU INSTALL ON A COMPUTER: DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN, UPDATE. QUANTITIES IN A FORMULA FOR POWER: DISTANCE, FORCE, POWER, TIME. ___ TAP: DOUBLE, LOVE, PHONE, SPINAL. |
| Thu, Oct 22, 2026 | Connections #1229 | PARTS TO BE GRASPED: GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB. KINDS OF SCULPTURES: BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE. AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS: END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE. STARTS OF BEDDING: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE. |
| Wed, Oct 21, 2026 | Connections #1228 | CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES: DUCK DUCK GOOSE, HOT POTATO, LEAPFROG, MUSICAL CHAIRS. IMPORTANT PERSON: ALPHA DOG, BIG CHEESE, HEAVYWEIGHT, TOP BANANA. FAMOUS PAINTINGS: AMERICAN GOTHIC, CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN, SUNFLOWERS, THE SCREAM. DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION): ENGLISH HORN, GRAPE-NUTS, MANTIS SHRIMP, SWEETBREAD. |
| Tue, Oct 20, 2026 | Connections #1227 | FINISH: CLOSE, END, STOP, WRAP. LACKEY: MINION, POODLE, PUPPET, STOOGE. MUSTACHES: CHEVRON, HORSESHOE, PENCIL, WALRUS. HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS: ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI. |
| Mon, Oct 19, 2026 | Connections #1226 | SEETHE: BOIL, FUME, RAVE, STEAM. ALL TALK: BLATHER, GAS, HOT AIR, WIND. "MC" THINGS AT MCDONALD'S: FLURRY, MUFFIN, NUGGETS, RIB. ENDING IN BIRDS: ALIBIS, BALLOON, ESCROW, MOHAWK. |
| Sun, Oct 18, 2026 | Connections #1225 | PLACES TO STORE CLOTHES: BUREAU, CHEST, TRUNK, WARDROBE. THINGS THAT COME IN STICKS: BUTTER, DEODORANT, DYNAMITE, INCENSE. FAMOUS PERFUMES: ANGEL, COCO, OBSESSION, OPIUM. STARTING WITH THINGS THAT CLOUD THE AIR: FOGERTY, HAZEL, MISTER, VAPORETTO. |
| Sat, Oct 17, 2026 | Connections #1224 | DIGITAL NOTIFICATIONS: ALERT, CHIME, DING, PING. PHOTO: PRINT, SHOT, SNAP, STILL. KINDS OF CRABS: FIDDLER, HERMIT, KING, SNOW. LA ___: BOHÈME, BREA, PAZ, SCALA. |
| Fri, Oct 16, 2026 | Connections #1223 | SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS: CHIP, MARK, NICK, SCRATCH. LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES: CHAD, HUNGARY, LAOS, PARAGUAY. EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTER: BULGARI, CYRUS, HUNGRY, SPAN. STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH": CHICKEN, COOLIDGE, HIPPO, SMARTIES. |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | Connections #1222 | WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD: CURE, DRY, PICKLE, SMOKE. THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS: BASKET, GOAL, RUN, TOUCHDOWN. LOWEST PART: BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT, FOUNDATION. LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED: CANNON, FORGE, RACINE, VOLLEY. |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2026 | Connections #1221 | HINT: FLICKER, SUGGESTION, TRACE, WHIFF. TENNIS SHOTS: SERVE, SLICE, SMASH, VOLLEY. SUPERHEROES, WITH "THE": FLASH, HULK, PUNISHER, THING. STARTING WITH "FEE, FI, FO, FUM": FEED, FIERY, FOMENT, FUMBLE. |
| Tue, Oct 13, 2026 | Connections #1220 | DISCERNMENT: EYE, FLAIR, SENSE, TASTE. FASTEN: HITCH, LASH, TETHER, TIE. SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZES: BELT, CUP, JACKET, RING. LOOSE ___: CANNON, CHANGE, ENDS, LIPS. |
| Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Connections #1219 | STATUS: CONDITION, SHAPE, SITUATION, STATE. TOLERATE: BEAR, HANDLE, STAND, WEATHER. WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN: ABBREVIATION, CONTRACTION, ELISION, NICKNAME. WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS: ALKYLAMIDE, CALAMARI, MANDARIN, MELAMINE. |
| Sun, Oct 11, 2026 | Connections #1218 | PUT TO USE: APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE, WIELD. MONTHLY BILLS: CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET, PHONE. THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP, REGISTRATION. ENDING IN GAMBITS: EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE, SYNTACTIC. |
| Sat, Oct 10, 2026 | Connections #1217 | USEFUL WHEN WRITING A PAPER: DRAFT, NOTES, OUTLINE, THESIS. PRESUME: FIGURE, GATHER, IMAGINE, SUPPOSE. SOCIAL MEDIA SECTIONS: FEED, MESSAGES, NOTIFICATIONS, PROFILE. ___BOXING: BEAT, KICK, SHADOW, UN. |
| Fri, Oct 9, 2026 | Connections #1216 | DECISIVE VICTORY: BLOWOUT, ROMP, ROUT, SWEEP. CONTROLLED BY A TV REMOTE: CHANNEL, INPUT, POWER, VOLUME. FEATURES OF A SPORTS SHOW: HIGHLIGHTS, RECAP, SCORES, STATS. AIR ___: CONDITIONER, GUITAR, KISS, QUOTES. |
| Thu, Oct 8, 2026 | Connections #1215 | FOLLOWS, AS RULES: HEEDS, MINDS, REGARDS, RESPECTS. OUTDO: BEST, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP. THINGS THAT COME IN THREES: CHEERS, STOOGES, STRIKES, WISHES. ENDING IN ACTORS NAMED TOM: AUTOCRUISE, FOOLHARDY, MULHOLLAND, THANKS. |
| Wed, Oct 7, 2026 | Connections #1214 | SAVE FOR LATER: BANK, SQUIRREL, STASH, STORE. KINDS OF BUNS: CINNAMON, HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, STICKY. GREEK NUMERICAL PREFIXES: DICHOTOMY, MONOLOGUE, TETRACYCLINE, TRIDENT. BEST ___ TONY AWARDS: CHOREOGRAPHY, MUSICAL, ORCHESTRATIONS, PLAY. |
| Tue, Oct 6, 2026 | Connections #1213 | FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT: BERKSHIRE, CITI, GOLDMAN, MERRILL. KINDS OF CHAIRS: ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, WINGBACK. ___ INN HOTELS: COMFORT, DAYS, HAMPTON, HOLIDAY. ENDING IN TALENTS: CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, STABILITY. |
| Mon, Oct 5, 2026 | Connections #1212 | CALM: 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. |
◆ 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.
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