Looking for today’s NYT Connections hints and answers for October 22, 2026? Puzzle #1229 challenges players to sort 16 words into four groups based on shared meanings, categories, or wordplay. Some connections may look obvious, while others can lead to misleading guesses.
This guide covers the complete word list, progressive hints, category names, and solutions for today’s New York Times word game. Try the clues first if you want to preserve the challenge, then scroll down when you are ready to reveal the answers.
NYT Connections Words Today: October 22, 2026
The 16 words in today’s puzzle are:
MOBILE, COMFORT, BLANK, SAFETY, RELIEF, GRIP, END, BUST, HANDLE, TACKLE, PILL, KNOB, SHE, GUARD, HILT, STATUE.
Read the words carefully before choosing a group. Several have multiple meanings, so a word that appears to fit one category may belong somewhere else.
Today’s NYT Connections Hints
Use these clues to identify the four groups without immediately revealing their solutions.
- Yellow: Parts of an object that you can hold.
- Green: Different forms of three-dimensional art.
- Blue: Positions in a popular American sport.
- Purple: The words begin longer terms for items associated with a bed.
The yellow category relies on familiar objects, while the green group requires some knowledge of sculpture. The blue category draws on American football, and the purple group tests your ability to recognise incomplete words.
NYT Connections Categories for October 22
Still struggling to find the connections? Here are the four category names, arranged by the game’s usual difficulty colours:
- Yellow: Parts to Be Grasped
- Green: Kinds of Sculptures
- Blue: American Football Positions
- Purple: Starts of Bedding
The purple category is especially deceptive because the words are not complete bedding terms. Each one needs additional letters to form a familiar word.
Today’s NYT Connections Answers: October 22, 2026
Spoiler alert: The complete solutions for puzzle #1229 appear below.
Yellow: Parts to Be Grasped
GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB
These are parts of objects designed to be held, turned, or gripped. A hilt is the handle of a sword or dagger.
Green: Kinds of Sculptures
BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE
All four are forms of sculpture. A bust depicts a person’s head and upper body, a mobile features suspended moving elements, a relief projects from a background, and a statue represents a figure.
Blue: American Football Positions
END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE
These four terms refer to positions in American football. Recognising the sporting connection helps distinguish them from words such as GRIP and HANDLE.
Purple: Starts of Bedding
BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE
Add letters to complete the words blanket, comforter, pillow, and sheet. This spelling-based connection makes the purple group the final challenge.
Tips for Solving NYT Connections Faster
Start by looking for obvious synonyms and familiar categories. Then examine the remaining words for alternative meanings, sports terminology, and incomplete phrases. Before submitting a group, make sure all four words fit one specific connection.
Today’s puzzle rewards careful observation rather than quick guesses. Words such as SAFETY, RELIEF, and MOBILE can suggest several different themes, making it important to consider the full grid.
Keep checking back for daily NYT Connections hints, clues, categories, and answers to sharpen your word-association skills and maintain your winning streak.
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