Issue #1229 Thu 22 Oct
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — October 22, 2026 Today
Today's grid requires a steady hand and a willingness to look past the obvious. Clear your desk, take a breath, and focus on the overlaps.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The kitchen drawer is jammed, the heavy iron door is locked, and the antique sword is just out of reach. You need something to pull against.
Hardware and tools
Synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters G, H, K.
PARTS TO BE GRASPED
One is GRIP.
GRIP · HANDLE · HILT · KNOB
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
Dusting the marble torso, circling the wire construction in the gallery, or pausing before the bronze figure in the park.
Fine art
Examples of one named set
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters B, M, R, S.
KINDS OF SCULPTURES
One is BUST.
BUST · MOBILE · RELIEF · STATUE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The whistle blows, the line shifts, and someone is waiting for the snap. The chaos of the scrimmage settles into specific roles.
Gridiron terminology
Examples of one named set
Members are 3–6 letters; first letters E, G, S, T.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS
One is END.
END · GUARD · SAFETY · TACKLE
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
Smoothing the linens, pulling up the duvet, and checking the corners before turning out the lamp.
Household furnishings
Each fills the same blank
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters B, C, P, S.
STARTS OF BEDDING
One is BLANK.
BLANK · COMFORT · PILL · SHE
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
PARTS TO BE GRASPEDGRIP · HANDLE · HILT · KNOB
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Reveal the green group
KINDS OF SCULPTURESBUST · MOBILE · RELIEF · STATUE
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Reveal the blue group
AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONSEND · GUARD · SAFETY · TACKLE
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Reveal the violet group
STARTS OF BEDDINGBLANK · COMFORT · PILL · SHE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for today's Connections. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for October 22, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is today's NYT Connections?
Today's NYT Connections 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 today?
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 #1229?
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
- Connections hints — Oct 22 (this page)
- Strands hints — Oct 22
- Wordle hints — Oct 22
- Framed hints — Oct 22
- Globle hints — Oct 22
- Spelling Bee hints — Oct 22
- Letter Boxed hints — Oct 22
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words