Play Connections #1212
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1212 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
All of these describe a tranquil, untroubled state of mind or scene.
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Green group hintGentle hint
You might spot these terms in a rating warning before a show or game.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Add the same everyday word to each one and you get a familiar object or panel.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Look at the last few letters of each word to find a hidden word.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
CONTENT could suggest the material in a show's warning label, tempting you to place it with the rating terms instead of the peaceful words.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- CALM
- ADJECTIVES FOR MATURE CONTENT
- KINDS OF BOARDS
- ENDING IN WAYS TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE
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Difficulty: Medium. Three groups are fairly approachable, but the hidden-ending group is sneaky and some words could plausibly fit more than one category.
Connections #1212 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 5, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
CONTENT is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CALM.
Show all four words
CONTENT, PEACEFUL, PLACID, SERENE
Show one word
EXPLICIT is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ADJECTIVES FOR MATURE CONTENT.
Show all four words
EXPLICIT, GRAPHIC, STRONG, SUGGESTIVE
Show one word
ADVISORY is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is KINDS OF BOARDS.
Show all four words
ADVISORY, CHESS, IRONING, MESSAGE
Show one word
PARENT is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ENDING IN WAYS TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE.
Show all four words
PARENT, PLEASE, SAPPHIRE, SLOAN
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CONTENT: Means quietly satisfied and at ease.
- PEACEFUL: Free from disturbance or conflict.
- PLACID: Calm and not easily upset.
- SERENE: Clear, tranquil, and untroubled.
- EXPLICIT: Describes material that is openly adult or unfiltered.
- GRAPHIC: Describes vividly detailed violence or imagery.
- STRONG: Common rating term, as in strong language.
- SUGGESTIVE: Hints at adult themes without being fully direct.
- ADVISORY: An advisory board gives expert guidance.
- CHESS: A chess board is where the game is played.
- IRONING: An ironing board is for pressing clothes.
- MESSAGE: A message board is an online discussion forum.
Purple group explained
- PARENT: Ends in RENT, a way to temporarily use something.
- PLEASE: Ends in LEASE, a temporary use agreement.
- SAPPHIRE: Ends in HIRE, to temporarily engage or borrow.
- SLOAN: Ends in LOAN, something given temporarily.
What does SLOAN mean?
A surname, also used as a given name, and the name of a few well-known institutions. In this puzzle it matters only because the word hides 'LOAN' after the S, which is a way of temporarily borrowing something.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 4 | #1211 | SILENT ___ |
| Oct 3 | #1210 | ENDING IN FANTASY CREATURES |
| Oct 2 | #1209 | PRIME ___ |
| Oct 1 | #1208 | STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES |
| Sep 30 | #1207 | STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS |
| Sep 29 | #1206 | PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS |
| Sep 28 | #1205 | THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Oct 5
Connections #1212 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 5, 2026?
CALM: CONTENT, PEACEFUL, PLACID, SERENE. ADJECTIVES FOR MATURE CONTENT: EXPLICIT, GRAPHIC, STRONG, SUGGESTIVE. KINDS OF BOARDS: ADVISORY, CHESS, IRONING, MESSAGE. ENDING IN WAYS TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE: PARENT, PLEASE, SAPPHIRE, SLOAN.
What was the purple group in Connections #1212?
ENDING IN WAYS TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE: PARENT, PLEASE, SAPPHIRE, SLOAN.
What made Connections #1212 tricky?
CONTENT could suggest the material in a show's warning label, tempting you to place it with the rating terms instead of the peaceful words.