Play Connections #1222
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 #1222 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
Think of old-fashioned ways to keep the pantry stocked through winter.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These are ways to put points on the board.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each one names the deepest or underlying layer of something.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Swap one letter in each word to get a natural dip in the earth's surface.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
VOLLEY sounds like a sports term and BASE feels like a baseball term, which tempts you to put them with the point-getters.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD
- THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS
- LOWEST PART
- LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED
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Difficulty: Medium. Three groups are straightforward, but the last needs you to spot single-letter swaps in words that look like real names or terms.
Connections #1222 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 15, 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
CURE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD.
Show all four words
CURE, DRY, PICKLE, SMOKE
Show one word
BASKET is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS.
Show all four words
BASKET, GOAL, RUN, TOUCHDOWN
Show one word
BASE is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is LOWEST PART.
Show all four words
BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT, FOUNDATION
Show one word
CANNON is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED.
Show all four words
CANNON, FORGE, RACINE, VOLLEY
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CURE: Salt-curing keeps meats like ham from spoiling.
- DRY: Dehydrating fruit, herbs, or jerky removes moisture to prevent spoilage.
- PICKLE: Soaking in brine or vinegar keeps vegetables for months.
- SMOKE: Smoking meat or fish preserves it and adds flavor.
- BASKET: Basketball players score by sinking one.
- GOAL: Soccer and hockey players score by hitting one.
- RUN: Baseball teams score by crossing home plate.
- TOUCHDOWN: Football's six-point score.
- BASE: The bottom support of a structure or object.
- BOTTOM: The lowest point of anything.
- FOOT: The lowest part, as in the foot of a hill.
- FOUNDATION: The lowest structural layer of a building.
Purple group explained
- CANNON: Change N to Y to get CANYON.
- FORGE: Change F to G to get GORGE.
- RACINE: Change C to V to get RAVINE.
- VOLLEY: Change O to A to get VALLEY.
What does RACINE mean?
A city in Wisconsin on Lake Michigan, and also the French word for 'root'. Many people would not recognize it as a word, and it is not an English landform. It fits the puzzle as RAVINE with one letter changed.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 14 | #1221 | STARTING WITH "FEE, FI, FO, FUM" |
| Oct 13 | #1220 | LOOSE ___ |
| Oct 12 | #1219 | WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS |
| Oct 11 | #1218 | ENDING IN GAMBITS |
| Oct 10 | #1217 | ___BOXING |
| Oct 9 | #1216 | AIR ___ |
| Oct 8 | #1215 | ENDING IN ACTORS NAMED TOM |
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 15
Connections #1222 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 15, 2026?
WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD: CURE, DRY, PICKLE, SMOKE. THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS: BASKET, GOAL, RUN, TOUCHDOWN. LOWEST PART: BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT, FOUNDATION. LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED: CANNON, FORGE, RACINE, VOLLEY.
What was the purple group in Connections #1222?
LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED: CANNON, FORGE, RACINE, VOLLEY.
What made Connections #1222 tricky?
VOLLEY sounds like a sports term and BASE feels like a baseball term, which tempts you to put them with the point-getters.