Connections Hints and Answers for Thursday, November 5, 2026 (#1243)
Stuck on NYT Connections #1243 for Thursday, November 5, 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.
A mix of fashion and botany meets some tricky visual and linguistic puzzles. Watch out for words that seem to describe pets or famous people.
| Puzzle | NYT Connections #1243 |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Editor | Wyna Liu |
| Difficulty | 4 out of 5 |
| Next puzzle | #1244 unlocks at midnight your local time (Friday, November 6, 2026) |
Connections #1243 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 footwear styles.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These terms all describe the bottom part of a shoe.
Hint 3: reveal one word
One of the words in this set is KITTEN.
Green group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
These are all names found in a garden.
Hint 2: a stronger push
Each of these is a specific type of plant known for its blooms.
Hint 3: reveal one word
LOTUS is one of the four items in this group.
Blue group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Consider the physical silhouette of these items.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These objects all share a specific tapering geometry, wider at the bottom than the top.
Hint 3: reveal one word
You might find a RAINDROP among these similarly contoured things.
Purple group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Try modifying the spelling of common spirits.
Hint 2: a stronger push
If you take a well-known alcoholic drink and swap its final character, you'll get these words.
Hint 3: reveal one word
The word BRANDO comes from a spirit with its final character swapped.
Connections #1243 red herrings
Words that look like they belong together but don’t. Seeing them can save you a mistake.
Show the traps
- KITTEN, WHISKER: While these might make you think of a pet cat, they belong to very different groups.
- NARCISSUS, BRANDO: These names of a mythological figure and a movie star are just a coincidence.
- PEAR, ROSE: These can both describe colors, but they function differently on this board.
Connections #1243 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 HEELS
- Green: FLOWERS
- Blue: TEARDROP-SHAPED THINGS
- Purple: LIQUORS WITH LAST LETTERS CHANGED
Connections #1243 answers
All 16 words sorted into their groups, with why each one fits. Spoilers inside.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow: KINDS OF HEELS
KITTEN, PLATFORM, SPIKE, WEDGE
These are all specific styles of support found on the bottom of shoes.
- KITTEN — A kitten heel is a short, slender style of support.
- PLATFORM — A platform heel features a thick, raised sole.
- SPIKE — A spike heel is very thin and typically high.
- WEDGE — A wedge heel is a solid piece extending from the back to the front.
Green: FLOWERS
ANEMONE, LOTUS, NARCISSUS, ROSE
These are all names of decorative plants that produce blossoms.
- ANEMONE — Also known as a windflower, this plant has bright petals.
- LOTUS — An aquatic plant with large, symbolic blossoms.
- NARCISSUS — A genus of spring bulbs that includes daffodils.
- ROSE — A classic woody perennial known for its fragrance and thorns.
Blue: TEARDROP-SHAPED THINGS
PEAR, RAINDROP, SPEEDBAG, UVULA
Each of these has a bulbous bottom that tapers to a point or narrow neck.
- PEAR — A fruit known for its wide base and narrow neck.
- RAINDROP — A falling bead of water with a rounded bottom and pointed top.
- SPEEDBAG — A piece of boxing equipment that hangs from a narrow top.
- UVULA — The fleshy lobe hanging in the back of the throat.
Purple: LIQUORS WITH LAST LETTERS CHANGED
BRANDO, GIG, RUN, WHISKER
Each word is an alcoholic beverage with the final letter replaced by another.
- BRANDO — The actor's name is formed by taking Brandy and swapping the final Y for an O.
- GIG — This word for a job is Gin with the N replaced by a G.
- RUN — This verb is Rum with the M turned into an N.
- WHISKER — This facial hair is Whiskey with the Y changed to an R.