Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #1238) - today's words
Today's NYT Connections words are…
- STAYCATION
- GUITAR
- DIRTY
- KILLER
- SICK
- DOWNFALL
- SHAKEN
- UP
- TENNIS RACKET
- SHAKESPEARE
- WICKED
- TASSEL
- SITCOM
- MARIONETTE
- DRY
- GNARLY
NYT Connections today (game #1238) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Confusing slang
- GREEN: Instructions for James Bond’s favorite cocktail
- BLUE: A twine in common
- PURPLE: Begin with canine control
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #1238) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD
- GREEN: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS
- BLUE: THINGS WITH STRINGS
- PURPLE: STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1238) - the answers
The answers to today's Connections, game #1238, are…
- YELLOW: WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD: GNARLY, KILLER, SICK, WICKED
- GREEN: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS: DIRTY, DRY, SHAKEN, UP
- BLUE: THINGS WITH STRINGS: GUITAR, MARIONETTE, TASSEL, TENNIS RACKET
- PURPLE: STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS: DOWNFALL, SHAKESPEARE, SITCOM, STAYCATION
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 2 mistakes
I was on the right track with STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS, as I saw the link between DOWNFALL, SITCOM and STAYCATION — but I thought KILLER was the fourth; something, in hindsight, that would take canine training to a whole new (and wrong) level.
After winning a Purple First for connecting the hardest group of the game, I made another error putting together the easiest/yellow group, including DIRTY among the WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD.
After switching with GNARLY, another meaning for DIRTY came to mind and I was able to cobble together MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, October 30, 2026, game #1237)
- YELLOW: PARTS OF A CAMERA: FLASH, LENS, SHUTTER, VIEWFINDER
- GREEN: AROUND A THEATER STAGE: BACKDROP, CURTAIN, PIT, WINGS
- BLUE: THROW____: HANDS, PILLOW, RUG, SHADE
- PURPLE: FRUIT WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED: DEMON, DRAPE, GLUM, GRANGE
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
English (US) ·