Connections Hints and Answers for Saturday, October 31, 2026 (#1238)
Stuck on NYT Connections #1238 for Saturday, October 31, 2026? Below are spoiler-free hints and clues for all four color groups, the red herrings to avoid, the four category names, and the full answers, each hidden until you open it.
Today's board mixes casual slang with cocktail culture and physical objects. Watch out for words that share a common prefix but belong to different categories.
| Puzzle | NYT Connections #1238 |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 31, 2026 |
| Editor | Wyna Liu |
| Difficulty | 3 out of 5 |
| Next puzzle | #1239 unlocks at midnight your local time (Sunday, November 1, 2026) |
Connections #1238 hints and clues
Each color group has three clues. Open one at a time: each gives away a little more than the last, and none of them shows the category name.
Yellow group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Think about how someone might describe an awesome surfing move or a great concert.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These are informal adjectives that usually mean something negative, but here they mean excellent.
Hint 3: reveal one word
The word GNARLY is often used this way.
Green group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Consider the options you have when ordering a classic cocktail at a high-end bar.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These terms describe the preparation style or the amount of vermouth in a gin-based beverage.
Hint 3: reveal one word
You might ask for your drink to be served DRY.
Blue group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Focus on the physical construction of these diverse items from music and sports.
Hint 2: a stronger push
Each of these objects features thin, flexible fibers used for playing, decorating, or controlling movement.
Hint 3: reveal one word
A GUITAR is a classic example of an object in this group.
Purple group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Break these longer words apart and look closely at how they begin.
Hint 2: a stronger push
The first syllable of each word is a common instruction used during pet training.
Hint 3: reveal one word
The word STAYCATION follows this pattern by starting with a pet instruction.
Connections #1238 red herrings
Words that look like they belong together but don’t. Seeing them can save you a mistake.
Show the traps
- SHAKEN, SHAKESPEARE: These two words share a common root, but they belong to different themes.
- DIRTY, WICKED, SICK: These words all share a negative literal meaning, which might tempt you to group them together.
Connections #1238 categories
Knowing the theme is often enough to finish. These are the four category names, without the words.
Show the four categories
- Yellow: WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD
- Green: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS
- Blue: THINGS WITH STRINGS
- Purple: STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS
Connections #1238 answers
All 16 words sorted into their groups, with why each one fits. Spoilers inside.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow: WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD
GNARLY, KILLER, SICK, WICKED
These are slang terms where a word with a negative literal meaning is used to mean excellent or cool.
- GNARLY — Surfer slang used to describe something excellent.
- KILLER — Informal term for something very impressive or effective.
- SICK — Modern slang used to mean something is cool or amazing.
- WICKED — Regional or informal slang meaning very awesome.
Green: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS
DIRTY, DRY, SHAKEN, UP
These are common ways to customize how a classic gin or vodka cocktail is prepared and served.
- DIRTY — Refers to adding olive brine to the cocktail.
- DRY — Refers to using a minimal amount of vermouth.
- SHAKEN — Refers to mixing the ingredients vigorously with ice.
- UP — Refers to serving the drink chilled but without ice.
Blue: THINGS WITH STRINGS
GUITAR, MARIONETTE, TASSEL, TENNIS RACKET
Each of these objects features thin fibers or cords as a primary part of its design or function.
- GUITAR — This instrument produces music using six vibrating cords.
- MARIONETTE — This puppet is manipulated from above using several cords.
- TASSEL — This ornament consists of a bundle of hanging cords.
- TENNIS RACKET — This sports tool uses a woven grid of cords.
Purple: STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS
DOWNFALL, SHAKESPEARE, SITCOM, STAYCATION
The first part of each word is a standard instruction used when training a pet.
- DOWNFALL — This word begins with the pet instruction 'down'.
- SHAKESPEARE — This word begins with the pet instruction 'shake'.
- SITCOM — This word begins with the pet instruction 'sit'.
- STAYCATION — This word begins with the pet instruction 'stay'.