Connections hint for October 12, 2026
The puzzle for Monday, October 12, 2026. Every hint is hidden until you open it, so take only the nudge you need.
The 16 words, in starting order
- CALAMARI
- MANDARIN
- STATE
- ABBREVIATION
- NICKNAME
- HANDLE
- SHAPE
- WEATHER
- CONDITION
- CONTRACTION
- SITUATION
- BEAR
- ALKYLAMIDE
- STAND
- ELISION
- MELAMINE
Hints, from gentle to full answers
Hint 1Group name cluesShowHide
Colors run from yellow (the most direct link) to purple (the trickiest).
Yellow: the group name is 1 word long and starts with S.
Green: the group name is 1 word long and starts with T.
Blue: the group name is 3 words long and starts with W.
Purple: the group name is 6 words long and starts with W.
Hint 2One word from each groupShowHide
Yellow: CONDITION
Green: BEAR
Blue: ABBREVIATION
Purple: ALKYLAMIDE
SpoilerThe four group namesShowHide
Yellow: STATUS
Green: TOLERATE
Blue: WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN
Purple: WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS
SpoilerReveal the yellow groupShowHide
STATUS: CONDITION, SHAPE, SITUATION, STATE
SpoilerReveal the green groupShowHide
TOLERATE: BEAR, HANDLE, STAND, WEATHER
SpoilerReveal the blue groupShowHide
WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN: ABBREVIATION, CONTRACTION, ELISION, NICKNAME
SpoilerReveal the purple groupShowHide
WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS: ALKYLAMIDE, CALAMARI, MANDARIN, MELAMINE