A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1233
hints & answers for October 26, 2026

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows October 26, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, M, N and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHILLING belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?"

Reveal all four words
  • CHILLING
  • MANAGING
  • NOT BAD
  • SAME OLD

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with P, W, W and Y. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

PRAYER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

KINDS OF MATS

Reveal all four words
  • PRAYER
  • WELCOME
  • WRESTLING
  • YOGA

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, H, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HERDING belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

AKC DOG BREED GROUPS

Reveal all four words
  • HERDING
  • HOUND
  • SPORTING
  • TOY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, H, J and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HALLOWEEK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

Reveal all four words
  • HALLOWEEK
  • HOSTED
  • JAWN
  • PSYCHS
Show categories only
  • Yellow: RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?"
  • Green: KINDS OF MATS
  • Blue: AKC DOG BREED GROUPS
  • Purple: HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

RESPONSES TO "HOW ARE YOU?"

CHILLING · MANAGING · NOT BAD · SAME OLD

Green

KINDS OF MATS

PRAYER · WELCOME · WRESTLING · YOGA

Blue

AKC DOG BREED GROUPS

HERDING · HOUND · SPORTING · TOY

Purple

HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED

HALLOWEEK · HOSTED · JAWN · PSYCHS

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.