The NYT Connections puzzle for October 22, 2026, marks the game’s 1,229th entry. Today’s board presents a mix of physical objects, artistic forms, and specific professional roles, along with a wordplay category that requires looking beyond the literal meanings of the words provided.
Connections Hints for October 22
If you prefer to solve the puzzle with a few nudges rather than the full solution, here are some progressive clues for the October 22 challenge:
- Yellow Category Hint: Think about the physical parts of tools or doors designed for a hand to hold.
- Green Category Hint: These are all physical forms of art, ranging from stationary figures to those that move in the air.
- Blue Category Hint: This group focuses on specific roles found in American football.
- Purple Category Hint: Each of these four words is a shortened version of a common item found on a bed.
Strategic Red Herrings
Watch out for linguistic overlaps that might lead you astray. The words Grip, Handle, Tackle, and Guard all function as verbs meaning to take control or deal with a situation. Additionally, Pill and Relief might tempt you into a medical-themed grouping that does not exist in today’s grid.
SPOILER WARNING: The full solutions for NYT Connections #1,229 follow below.
Connections Answers for October 22, 2026
If you are ready for the final results, here are the completed groups for today’s puzzle:
Yellow: Parts to be Grasped
Grip, Handle, Hilt, Knob
This category identifies the specific components of objects—like swords, doors, or tools—intended for manual contact and control.
Green: Kinds of Sculptures
Bust, Mobile, Relief, Statue
These terms describe different formats of three-dimensional art, from the kinetic (Mobile) to the traditional (Statue and Bust) and the wall-mounted (Relief).
Blue: American Football Positions
End, Guard, Safety, Tackle
Each of these words serves as a standard designation for a player’s position on a football field.
Purple: Starts of Bedding
Blank, Comfort, Pill, She
This is the trickiest category of the day. Each word is a truncated version of a bedding term: Blanket, Comforter, Pillow, and Sheet.
