ConnectionsHint
Puzzle #1228

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Puzzle #1228 · Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026

Stuck on Connections puzzle #1228? Each group below starts with a gentle hint. Open a starter word, then the category, and only reveal the full answers when you are ready. Your progress is remembered on this device.

Nothing is revealed until you tap it.

Clues and hints for each group

Yellow group Straightforward

Hint: Four of the sixteen words share a link. The category name begins with the letter C.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: DUCK DUCK GOOSE

Show the category

Classic Children's Games

Green group Moderate

Hint: Four of the sixteen words share a link. The category name begins with the letter I.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: ALPHA DOG

Show the category

Important Person

Blue group Tricky

Hint: These four are names or titles you may know from culture, sport or the news, so ask what they share.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: AMERICAN GOTHIC

Show the category

Famous Paintings

Purple group Hardest

Hint: Four of the sixteen words share a link. The category name begins with the letter D.

Show one word from this group

One word that belongs here: ENGLISH HORN

Show the category

Double Misnomers (Neither Word Is an Accurate Description)

Full answers for puzzle #1228

Reveal all four groups and their words

Classic Children's Games

DUCK DUCK GOOSE HOT POTATO LEAPFROG MUSICAL CHAIRS

Important Person

ALPHA DOG BIG CHEESE HEAVYWEIGHT TOP BANANA

Famous Paintings

AMERICAN GOTHIC CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN SUNFLOWERS THE SCREAM

Double Misnomers (Neither Word Is an Accurate Description)

ENGLISH HORN GRAPE-NUTS MANTIS SHRIMP SWEETBREAD

More Connections hints

Other Wednesday puzzles

All puzzles from October 2026 Search the full archive Today's clues Today's answers Strategy guide Colors explained

Questions people ask

How hard is NYT Connections puzzle #1228?

Puzzle #1228 from October 21, 2026 follows the usual pattern: yellow is the gentlest group and purple the trickiest.

How can I get a hint for the October 21, 2026 Connections puzzle without spoilers?

Every group on this page opens with a one-line hint. One word from the group and then the category name sit behind separate buttons, and the full answers stay hidden until you open them.

When does the new Connections puzzle come out?

A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight in your local time zone. We usually publish the next puzzle's hints the evening before, US time, so they are ready when your grid refreshes. See today's hints →

How many mistakes are you allowed in Connections?

You have four mistakes. The fourth wrong guess ends the game, so you can safely miss three times. If the game says you are "one away", three of your four words are correct.

Where can I find yesterday's Connections answers?

Open the Yesterday page for the previous puzzle, or search the archive by date, puzzle number, word or category. Yesterday's hints →