Play Connections #1227
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 #1227 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 ways to bring something to a conclusion.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These are yes-men who do whatever the boss says without question.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Picture different styles of facial hair above the upper lip.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Say each one out loud and think of animated movie names that sound the same.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
One word in the sidekick group looks a lot like a word that sounds like a famous cartoon mouse, so it is tempting to pair them up.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- FINISH
- LACKEY
- MUSTACHES
- HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS
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Difficulty: Medium. The sidekick and facial hair groups are fairly clear, but the sound-alike group takes a bit of spelling imagination to spot.
Connections #1227 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 20, 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
CLOSE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is FINISH.
Show all four words
CLOSE, END, STOP, WRAP
Show one word
MINION is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is LACKEY.
Show all four words
MINION, POODLE, PUPPET, STOOGE
Show one word
CHEVRON is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is MUSTACHES.
Show all four words
CHEVRON, HORSESHOE, PENCIL, WALRUS
Show one word
ARIAL is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS.
Show all four words
ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CLOSE: To close something is to bring it to a finish.
- END: To end something is to finish it.
- STOP: To stop is to bring an activity to a halt.
- WRAP: To wrap up is to finish, as in a film shoot.
- MINION: A follower who carries out a boss's orders.
- POODLE: A person who obediently follows another, like a loyal pet.
- PUPPET: Someone controlled by another person's strings.
- STOOGE: A person who does another's bidding, often foolishly.
- CHEVRON: A thick mustache shaped like an upside-down V.
- HORSESHOE: A mustache that curves down both sides of the mouth.
- PENCIL: A very thin, neat line of mustache.
- WALRUS: A big, bushy mustache that droops over the lip.
Purple group explained
- ARIAL: Sounds like Ariel, the little mermaid.
- BELL: Sounds like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
- DOCK: Sounds like Doc, one of the seven dwarfs.
- MINI: Sounds like Minnie, the famous cartoon mouse.
What does ARIAL mean?
A very common sans-serif computer font. Here it sounds like Ariel, the title character of Disney's The Little Mermaid, so it belongs with the Disney homophones.
What does CHEVRON mean?
A V-shaped pattern or stripe, like a sergeant's insignia. As a mustache, it is a thick, full style that covers the whole upper lip and hangs slightly over the corners of the mouth.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 19 | #1226 | ENDING IN BIRDS |
| Oct 18 | #1225 | STARTING WITH THINGS THAT CLOUD THE AIR |
| Oct 17 | #1224 | LA ___ |
| Oct 16 | #1223 | STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH" |
| Oct 15 | #1222 | LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED |
| Oct 14 | #1221 | STARTING WITH "FEE, FI, FO, FUM" |
| Oct 13 | #1220 | LOOSE ___ |
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 20
Connections #1227 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 20, 2026?
FINISH: CLOSE, END, STOP, WRAP. LACKEY: MINION, POODLE, PUPPET, STOOGE. MUSTACHES: CHEVRON, HORSESHOE, PENCIL, WALRUS. HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS: ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI.
What was the purple group in Connections #1227?
HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS: ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI.
What made Connections #1227 tricky?
One word in the sidekick group looks a lot like a word that sounds like a famous cartoon mouse, so it is tempting to pair them up.