Connections Hints and Answers for Sunday, November 1, 2026 (#1239)
Stuck on NYT Connections #1239 for Sunday, November 1, 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.
One group focuses on anatomy, while another uses slang for fans. Be wary of an animal-themed trap.
| Puzzle | NYT Connections #1239 |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Editor | Wyna Liu |
| Difficulty | 4 out of 5 |
| Next puzzle | #1240 unlocks at midnight your local time (Monday, November 2, 2026) |
Connections #1239 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 dental checkups.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These are specific structures found in the mouth used for processing food.
Hint 3: reveal one word
One of the words in this set is MOLAR.
Green group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Consider different ways people experience or describe deep affection.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These adjectives describe various forms of emotional attachment or devotion.
Hint 3: reveal one word
UNREQUITED is one of the terms in this category.
Blue group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
These words describe someone who is extremely passionate about a specific hobby.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These terms are often used as suffixes or slang for a devotee or a superfan.
Hint 3: reveal one word
FIEND is one of the words used to describe a dedicated fan.
Purple group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Look at the spelling of these words and try replacing the initial consonant.
Hint 2: a stronger push
If you swap the beginning of these words, they become terms for being completely wet.
Hint 3: reveal one word
TRENCHED becomes a word for being wet if you swap the T for a D.
Connections #1239 red herrings
Words that look like they belong together but don’t. Seeing them can save you a mistake.
Show the traps
- CANINE, PUPPY, HOUND, DOGGY: These words all suggest domestic animals but are scattered across all four categories.
- LOVER, BROTHERLY, SELF: These could relate to types of relationships, but they are split between descriptors of affection and fan terminology.
Connections #1239 categories
Knowing the theme is often enough to finish. These are the four category names, without the words.
Show the four categories
- Yellow: KINDS OF TEETH
- Green: KINDS OF LOVE
- Blue: ENTHUSIAST
- Purple: SYNONYMS FOR "SOAKED" WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED
Connections #1239 answers
All 16 words sorted into their groups, with why each one fits. Spoilers inside.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow: KINDS OF TEETH
BICUSPID, CANINE, INCISOR, MOLAR
These are various types of human dentition.
- BICUSPID — A tooth with two points located between the canines and molars.
- CANINE — A pointed tooth used for tearing food.
- INCISOR — A narrow-edged tooth at the front of the mouth used for cutting.
- MOLAR — A large back tooth used for grinding food.
Green: KINDS OF LOVE
BROTHERLY, PUPPY, SELF, UNREQUITED
These are common descriptors for different varieties of affection.
- BROTHERLY — Affection between siblings or very close friends.
- PUPPY — A term for adolescent or shallow infatuation.
- SELF — The practice of caring for one's own emotional well-being.
- UNREQUITED — Affection that is not returned by the person it is directed toward.
Blue: ENTHUSIAST
FIEND, HEAD, HOUND, LOVER
These are informal names for someone who is obsessed with or very fond of something.
- FIEND — Someone obsessed with something, such as a 'caffeine fiend'.
- HEAD — Used as a suffix for enthusiasts, like a 'sneakerhead' or 'pothead'.
- HOUND — Someone who relentlessly pursues a specific interest, like a 'news hound'.
- LOVER — A person who has a great liking for a specific thing, like a 'music lover'.
Purple: SYNONYMS FOR "SOAKED" WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED
DOGGY, MATURATED, TRENCHED, TRIPPING
Each word is a modified version of a term meaning very wet.
- DOGGY — Change the D to an S to get 'Soggy'.
- MATURATED — Change the M to an S to get 'Saturated'.
- TRENCHED — Change the T to a D to get 'Drenched'.
- TRIPPING — Change the T to a D to get 'Dripping'.