Connections #1249 hints
Take the hints one colour at a time. Yellow tends to be the most direct and purple the most sideways.
Hints revealed: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
Ways of healing that a doctor or a grandparent might recommend.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Places you would walk, hit from, or aim for while playing eighteen holes.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Inflatable things that go flat the moment they get a leak.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Peek at how each word wraps up, because the last few letters read the same forwards and backwards.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint: names board words
GREEN and HERBAL both feel earthy and plant-related, so it is tempting to try pairing them with each other.
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The four group namesStrong hint: reveals all four categories
- KINDS OF MEDICINE
- PARTS OF A GOLF COURSE
- THINGS FILLED WITH AIR
- ENDING IN PALINDROMES
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Difficulty: Medium. The reason is in the answers section, since it can name the groups.
Play Connections #1249
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. The longest word on this board is WHOOPIE CUSHION and the shortest is FOLK.
Connections #1249 answers
The groups for November 11, 2026 are below, each with a reason for every word.
Reveal one group at a time
Three levels per colour: a single word, the group name, then all four. Open only what you need.
Show one word
FOLK is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is KINDS OF MEDICINE.
Show all four words
FOLK, HERBAL, HOLISTIC, TRADITIONAL
Show one word
GREEN is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PARTS OF A GOLF COURSE.
Show all four words
GREEN, ROUGH, SAND TRAP, TEE BOX
Show one word
AIR MATTRESS is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS FILLED WITH AIR.
Show all four words
AIR MATTRESS, BUBBLE, TIRE, WHOOPIE CUSHION
Show one word
AFTERNOON is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ENDING IN PALINDROMES.
Show all four words
AFTERNOON, PATOOT, RHEOSTATS, SHREDDER
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- FOLK: Home remedies passed down in communities are folk healing.
- HERBAL: Treatments made from plants and herbs.
- HOLISTIC: Healing that treats the whole person, not just symptoms.
- TRADITIONAL: Long-established healing practices from a culture or era.
- GREEN: The smooth, short grass area surrounding the hole.
- ROUGH: The long, tough grass off the fairway.
- SAND TRAP: A bunker hazard filled with sand.
- TEE BOX: The starting area where you hit your first shot.
- AIR MATTRESS: An inflatable bed you pump up for guests or camping.
- BUBBLE: A thin film of soap or liquid holding a pocket of air.
- TIRE: Rubber wheel cover that holds pressurized air.
- WHOOPIE CUSHION: A prank cushion that makes noise when air escapes.
Purple group explained
- AFTERNOON: Ends in NOON, which reads the same backward.
- PATOOT: Ends in TOOT, which is a palindrome.
- RHEOSTATS: Ends in STATS, which reads the same both ways.
- SHREDDER: Ends in REDDER, a six-letter palindrome.
Why it rated medium: Three of the groups are friendly themes, but the last one depends on spotting a hidden pattern in how the words end.
Puzzle note
The puzzle turned once the purple group showed itself, because AFTERNOON, PATOOT, RHEOSTATS and SHREDDER all end in palindromes, which cleared the way. HERBAL only looked like GREEN's friend. When a group feels hidden, check each word's ending, not just its meaning.
What does PATOOT mean?
A rarely used word meaning the buttocks, or backside. It is a playful, old-fashioned slang term. In the puzzle, the word ends in the palindrome TOOT, which is the hidden pattern that links the group.
What does RHEOSTATS mean?
Plural of rheostat, an electrical device that lets you change resistance and so adjust current, like the dimmer knob on an old light. In the puzzle, it ends in the palindrome STATS.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 10 | #1248 | WORDS WITH FIVE OF ONE VOWEL |
| Nov 9 | #1247 | ENDING IN SEA CREATURES |
| Nov 8 | #1246 | VEGETABLE HOMOPHONES |
| Nov 7 | #1245 | ENDS OF STORM TYPES |
| Nov 6 | #1244 | ENDING IN PARTS OF THE EYE |
| Nov 5 | #1243 | LIQUORS WITH LAST LETTERS CHANGED |
| Nov 4 | #1242 | FIRE___ |
About Connections
In Connections, 16 words hide four groups of four, and you can make four mistakes. Yellow is usually the plainest group and purple the most playful. Old puzzles show the same kinds of traps again and again, so replaying them is good practice.
Other puzzles on Nov 11
Connections #1249 questions
How hard was Connections #1249?
We rated it medium.
What were the Connections answers on November 11, 2026?
KINDS OF MEDICINE: FOLK, HERBAL, HOLISTIC, TRADITIONAL. PARTS OF A GOLF COURSE: GREEN, ROUGH, SAND TRAP, TEE BOX. THINGS FILLED WITH AIR: AIR MATTRESS, BUBBLE, TIRE, WHOOPIE CUSHION. ENDING IN PALINDROMES: AFTERNOON, PATOOT, RHEOSTATS, SHREDDER.
What was the purple group in Connections #1249?
ENDING IN PALINDROMES: AFTERNOON, PATOOT, RHEOSTATS, SHREDDER.
What made Connections #1249 tricky?
GREEN and HERBAL both feel earthy and plant-related, so it is tempting to try pairing them with each other.
What was the easiest group in Connections #1249?
Usually yellow, which was KINDS OF MEDICINE: FOLK, HERBAL, HOLISTIC, TRADITIONAL.