Connections Hints and Answers for Monday, November 16, 2026 (#1254)
Stuck on NYT Connections #1254 for Monday, November 16, 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 puzzle is a seasonal affair, though you'll need to look past the literal meanings of several items. It has a very structured feel where each set follows a similar naming pattern.
| Puzzle | NYT Connections #1254 |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, November 16, 2026 |
| Editor | Wyna Liu |
| Difficulty | 3 out of 5 |
| Next puzzle | #1255 unlocks at midnight your local time (Tuesday, November 17, 2026) |
Connections #1254 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 the warmest months of the year and what they bring.
Hint 2: a stronger push
Each of these terms can follow the name of the hottest season to form common phrases.
Hint 3: reveal one word
One of the entries in this set is the word CAMP.
Green group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
These terms relate to a time of renewal and growth.
Hint 2: a stronger push
Place the name of the season that follows the coldest months before these words.
Hint 3: reveal one word
The term CLEANING is a classic example of this seasonal grouping.
Blue group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Consider terms that evoke the coldest part of the year.
Hint 2: a stronger push
Each word here completes a phrase when preceded by the season of snow and ice.
Hint 3: reveal one word
You might find a MELON in this frosty category.
Purple group hints
Hint 1: a gentle nudge
Focus on the transition into the end of the year.
Hint 2: a stronger push
These words follow the name of the season when leaves change color and drop.
Hint 3: reveal one word
The phrase GUY belongs in this final grouping.
Connections #1254 red herrings
Words that look like they belong together but don’t. Seeing them can save you a mistake.
Show the traps
- CHICKEN, SAUSAGE, ONION, MELON: These all look like food items you might find in a kitchen or on a grill.
- CAMP, SCHOOL, CLEANING, GARDEN: These could be interpreted as chores or scheduled activities one might perform.
Connections #1254 categories
Knowing the theme is often enough to finish. These are the four category names, without the words.
Show the four categories
- Yellow: SUMMER ___
- Green: SPRING ___
- Blue: WINTER ___
- Purple: FALL ___
Connections #1254 answers
All 16 words sorted into their groups, with why each one fits. Spoilers inside.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow: SUMMER ___
BLOCKBUSTER, CAMP, SAUSAGE, SCHOOL
These are all things associated with the hottest time of year when preceded by that season's name.
- BLOCKBUSTER — Part of the phrase Summer Blockbuster, referring to a major movie release.
- CAMP — Part of the phrase Summer Camp, a program for children during their break.
- SAUSAGE — Part of the phrase Summer Sausage, a type of cured meat.
- SCHOOL — Part of the phrase Summer School, academic classes taken during the break.
Green: SPRING ___
CHICKEN, CLEANING, ONION, WATER
These words are commonly preceded by the name of the season associated with blooming flowers.
- CHICKEN — Part of the phrase Spring Chicken, a slang term for a young person.
- CLEANING — Part of the phrase Spring Cleaning, a deep home organizing ritual.
- ONION — Part of the phrase Spring Onion, another name for a scallion.
- WATER — Part of the phrase Spring Water, liquid sourced from a natural aquifer.
Blue: WINTER ___
GARDEN, GLOVES, MELON, WONDERLAND
These words all follow the name of the coldest season to create familiar terms.
- GARDEN — Part of the phrase Winter Garden, a specific type of theater or botanical space.
- GLOVES — Part of the phrase Winter Gloves, handwear designed for warmth.
- MELON — Part of the phrase Winter Melon, a large fruit used in Asian cuisine.
- WONDERLAND — Part of the phrase Winter Wonderland, a magical snowy scene.
Purple: FALL ___
ASLEEP, FOLIAGE, GUY, IN LOVE
These words are all part of common expressions starting with the name of the season when the year winds down.
- ASLEEP — Part of the phrase Fall Asleep, meaning to drift into slumber.
- FOLIAGE — Part of the phrase Fall Foliage, the changing leaves of trees.
- GUY — Part of the phrase Fall Guy, someone who takes the blame for others.
- IN LOVE — Part of the phrase Fall In Love, the act of becoming enamored.