The NYT Connections puzzle for Saturday, October 31, 2026, marks the 1,238th daily challenge since the game launched in June 2023. For this Halloween edition, the 16-word grid includes several terms that fit the spooky season, though their actual groupings may surprise you.
Connections Hints for October 31
If you are looking to solve the puzzle without seeing the final categories just yet, use these progressive hints to guide your thinking.
General Theme Hints
- Yellow: Terms that usually sound negative but are used to mean “excellent” or “cool.”
- Green: All these words describe how a bartender might prepare a Martini.
- Blue: Physical objects that require a cord, thread, or wire to function or look complete.
- Purple: Look at the first few letters of these words; they are all things you might shout at a well-trained pet.
Category Difficulty Ranking
- Yellow: Straightforward slang.
- Green: Specific to beverage preparation.
- Blue: Items that share a physical attribute.
- Purple: Wordplay involving prefixes.
Spoiler Warning: The final answers and category names for Connections #1,238 are listed below.
Connections Answers for October 31 (#1,238)
Yellow: Words Meaning “Good” That Sound “Bad”
GNARLY, KILLER, SICK, WICKED
In various eras of slang, these four words are used as synonyms for “great” or “impressive,” despite their literal definitions being quite the opposite. This category provided a subtle nod to the Halloween date with words like “Killer” and “Wicked.”
Green: Martini Specifications
DIRTY, DRY, SHAKEN, UP
These terms describe common ways to customize a Martini order. “Dirty” involves olive brine, “Dry” refers to the amount of vermouth, “Shaken” is the preparation method, and “Up” indicates the drink is served chilled without ice.
Blue: Things With Strings
GUITAR, MARIONETTE, TASSEL, TENNIS RACKET
Each of these items is defined by its strings. Whether used for music, puppetry, decoration, or sports, the presence of strings is a core component of their design.
Purple: Starting With Dog Commands
DOWNFALL, SHAKESPEARE, SITCOM, STAYCATION
This category is the most abstract. Each word begins with a common command given to a dog: Downfall, Shakespeare, Sitcom, and Staycation. Breaking the words apart reveals the “Down,” “Shake,” “Sit,” and “Stay” commands.
According to Lifehacker, the placement of “Wicked” and “Killer” in the Yellow category often leads players to search for a “Scary Movies” or “Villain” category first, making it one of the more effective decoys in recent weeks.
