Issue #1228 Wed 21 Oct
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — October 21, 2026 Yesterday
A steady pace greets the solver today. Careful observation of the grid reveals how familiar concepts shift under scrutiny.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The backyard grass is matted down in a circle, and someone has left a single shoe behind.
Recreational activities
Examples of one named set
Members are 8–15 letters; first letters D, H, L, M.
CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES
One is DUCK DUCK GOOSE.
DUCK DUCK GOOSE · HOT POTATO · LEAPFROG · MUSICAL CHAIRS
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The office door stays shut, and everyone else is waiting for the one person inside to finish their call.
Corporate hierarchy
Colloquial synonyms
Members are 9–11 letters; first letters A, B, H, T.
IMPORTANT PERSON
One is ALPHA DOG.
ALPHA DOG · BIG CHEESE · HEAVYWEIGHT · TOP BANANA
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A museum guard stands three feet back, watching a visitor lean in too close to the canvas.
Fine art
Examples of one named set
Members are 10–19 letters; first letters A, C, S, T.
FAMOUS PAINTINGS
One is AMERICAN GOTHIC.
AMERICAN GOTHIC · CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN · SUNFLOWERS · THE SCREAM
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A label on a shipping crate clearly states the contents, yet the person opening it finds something entirely different.
Linguistic inaccuracies
Items sharing one feature
Members are 10–13 letters; first letters E, G, M, S.
DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION)
One is ENGLISH HORN.
ENGLISH HORN · GRAPE-NUTS · MANTIS SHRIMP · SWEETBREAD
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMESDUCK DUCK GOOSE · HOT POTATO · LEAPFROG · MUSICAL CHAIRS
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Reveal the green group
IMPORTANT PERSONALPHA DOG · BIG CHEESE · HEAVYWEIGHT · TOP BANANA
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Reveal the blue group
FAMOUS PAINTINGSAMERICAN GOTHIC · CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN · SUNFLOWERS · THE SCREAM
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Reveal the violet group
DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION)ENGLISH HORN · GRAPE-NUTS · MANTIS SHRIMP · SWEETBREAD
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on October 21, 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 21, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on October 21, 2026?
NYT Connections on October 21, 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 21, 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 #1228?
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