Issue #1221 Wed 14 Oct
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — October 14, 2026
Today's grid offers a steady progression. Expect to find your footing early before the final few rows test your focus.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A moth-eaten sweater, the ghost of a perfume in an empty elevator, or the barely-there pencil marks on a salvaged blueprint.
Subtle indicators
Synonyms
Members are 5–10 letters; first letters F, S, T, W.
HINT
One is FLICKER.
FLICKER · SUGGESTION · TRACE · WHIFF
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The hollow sound of a racket hitting a ball, a dusty court at sunset, and the rhythmic squeak of sneakers on hard clay.
Athletic maneuvers
Verb synonyms
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters S, V.
TENNIS SHOTS
One is SERVE.
SERVE · SLICE · SMASH · VOLLEY
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A crumpled comic book from 1984, a plastic action figure missing its cape, and a poster peeling off a bedroom wall.
Pop culture icons
Items sharing one feature
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters F, H, P, T.
SUPERHEROES, WITH "THE"
One is FLASH.
FLASH · HULK · PUNISHER · THING
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A giant's heavy boot echoing through the rafters, a nursery rhyme recited at bedtime, and the low rumble of a fairy tale beginning.
Linguistic patterns
Each starts with a hidden item
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters F.
STARTING WITH "FEE, FI, FO, FUM"
One is FEED.
FEED · FIERY · FOMENT · FUMBLE
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
-
Reveal the yellow group
HINTFLICKER · SUGGESTION · TRACE · WHIFF
-
Reveal the green group
TENNIS SHOTSSERVE · SLICE · SMASH · VOLLEY
-
Reveal the blue group
SUPERHEROES, WITH "THE"FLASH · HULK · PUNISHER · THING
-
Reveal the violet group
STARTING WITH "FEE, FI, FO, FUM"FEED · FIERY · FOMENT · FUMBLE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on October 14, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for October 14, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on October 14, 2026?
NYT Connections on October 14, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on October 14, 2026?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #1221?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words