Play Connections #1229
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 #1229 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
Spots where your fingers wrap around on a sword, door, or tool.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Art you might see in a museum, in a town square, or hanging over a baby's crib.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Roles on a team lined up on a gridiron.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Add a couple of letters to each and you get things you sleep with or on.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Comfort and relief feel like synonyms, and handle, tackle, and guard all work as verbs, so it is easy to lump words together by meaning instead of by category.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- PARTS TO BE GRASPED
- KINDS OF SCULPTURES
- AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS
- STARTS OF BEDDING
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Difficulty: Medium. Most groups are straightforward, but one needs you to spot missing letters and several words have more than one meaning.
Connections #1229 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 22, 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
GRIP is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PARTS TO BE GRASPED.
Show all four words
GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB
Show one word
BUST is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is KINDS OF SCULPTURES.
Show all four words
BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE
Show one word
END is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS.
Show all four words
END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE
Show one word
BLANK is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is STARTS OF BEDDING.
Show all four words
BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- GRIP: The part of a tool or club you hold.
- HANDLE: The part of a door, mug, or bag you hold.
- HILT: The part of a sword you hold.
- KNOB: The round part you turn on a door or drawer.
- BUST: A sculpture of someone's head and shoulders.
- MOBILE: Hanging art with parts that move in the air.
- RELIEF: Sculpture that stands out from a flat background.
- STATUE: A full-figure carved or cast sculpture.
- END: A player who lines up at the edge of the line.
- GUARD: An offensive lineman who sits beside the center.
- SAFETY: A deep defensive back.
- TACKLE: A lineman who lines up outside the guard.
Purple group explained
- BLANK: Add ET to make BLANKET.
- COMFORT: Add ER to make COMFORTER.
- PILL: Add OW to make PILLOW.
- SHE: Add ET to make SHEET.
What does HILT mean?
The handle of a sword or dagger, the part you hold, sitting just above the blade. Often heard in the phrase 'up to the hilt', meaning completely or fully. Here it is one of the graspable parts.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 21 | #1228 | DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION) |
| Oct 20 | #1227 | HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS |
| 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 |
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 22
Connections #1229 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 22, 2026?
PARTS TO BE GRASPED: GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB. KINDS OF SCULPTURES: BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE. AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS: END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE. STARTS OF BEDDING: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE.
What was the purple group in Connections #1229?
STARTS OF BEDDING: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE.
What made Connections #1229 tricky?
Comfort and relief feel like synonyms, and handle, tackle, and guard all work as verbs, so it is easy to lump words together by meaning instead of by category.