NYT CONNECTIONS HELP
Connections Hints for Oct 1, 2026
Puzzle #1208
Choose a word or reveal a clue when you need it.
Words in This Puzzle
16 wordsSelect a word to see its meaning and why it may be tricky.
NATIONAL
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Relating to a nation or its people. With “The,” it is also the name of an indie rock band.
Why It May Be Tricky
A common adjective can conceal a proper-name use. The article is not printed on the tile.
KEN
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A person's range of knowledge or understanding, as in “beyond my ken.” Ken is also a given name.
Why It May Be Tricky
Both readings are valid, but a short entry may also be the beginning of a longer name.
NECK
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The part joining the head to the body; also a narrow connecting section or the neck of a garment.
Why It May Be Tricky
Body parts and clothing overlap here. Focus on the exact way a word is used.
SHINS
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The front portions of the lower legs. With “The,” it is also the name of an indie rock band.
Why It May Be Tricky
The anatomy meaning is a convincing distraction on a board containing other body-related words.
ACRO
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A shortened form used for acrobatics. The related combining form acro- can refer to height or an extremity.
Why It May Be Tricky
Treat the letters carefully: this short entry need not stand for a complete word in the puzzle.
STICK
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A thin piece of wood. As a verb, it can mean to attach, remain fixed, or put something somewhere informally.
Why It May Be Tricky
“Stick it there” uses a different sense from “a stick” or “it will stick.”
WAIST
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The narrow middle area of the body, or the corresponding area of clothing.
Why It May Be Tricky
Its body and garment senses overlap. The intended context may be narrower than anatomy in general.
WALKMEN
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The plural of Walkman, a portable personal audio player. With “The,” it is also the name of an indie rock band.
Why It May Be Tricky
A familiar product name can distract from a separate proper-name use.
SITUATE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
To place something somewhere, or describe it in a particular setting or context.
Why It May Be Tricky
Its formal tone can obscure a much simpler everyday equivalent.
SLEEVE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The part of a garment that covers an arm; also a protective covering for an object.
Why It May Be Tricky
Clothing is one use, but records and packaging can also have sleeves. Avoid following an association too far.
CROSS
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
To go from one side to another, an intersecting shape, or annoyed.
Why It May Be Tricky
The familiar definitions may distract from the letters at the beginning of a longer word.
PLACE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A location. As a verb, it can mean to put or arrange something in a position.
Why It May Be Tricky
Try the verb as well as the noun; the printed tile gives no grammatical cue.
SUD
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A rare Scots or dialectal form of “should.” In this puzzle, it may also be read simply as a fragment of letters.
Why It May Be Tricky
The unusual spelling invites a dictionary lookup, but finding a standalone definition may not explain its puzzle role.
POSITION
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A location, an arrangement, a job or a viewpoint. As a verb, it means to put something in a particular place.
Why It May Be Tricky
A job title or opinion is not the only possibility. Its action meaning is easy to miss.
CHEST
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The front of the upper body, or a box used for storage.
Why It May Be Tricky
A storage-box reading is plausible, while body and clothing contexts can overlap.
DECEMBERISTS
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
With “The,” the name of an indie rock band. The name also evokes the December uprising in Russian history.
Why It May Be Tricky
Do not confuse the band spelling with the usual historical term “Decembrists,” or assume the month alone supplies the link.
Connection Help
Choose any group and reveal only the help you want.
Puzzle’s 16 Words
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Imagine deciding where an object should go.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
PLACE · POSITION · SITUATE · STICK
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
PUT
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
Each verb can mean putting something in a location. STICK has this informal use in “stick it on the shelf”; it does not have to mean attaching something with glue.
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Think about information you would need to get the right fit.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
CHEST · NECK · SLEEVE · WAIST
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
These are measurements used to size or fit a dress shirt. SLEEVE refers to sleeve length, while CHEST, NECK and WAIST describe other dimensions of the fit.
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Try reading familiar words as names, with a short word left off the front.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
DECEMBERISTS · NATIONAL · SHINS · WALKMEN
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH “THE”
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
Add THE to get The Decemberists, The National, The Shins and The Walkmen, bands associated with the 2000s indie rock scene. The category concerns that era, not a claim that all four bands formed during those years.
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Some entries may make more sense if you finish their names.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
ACRO · CROSS · KEN · SUD
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
Extend the fragments to ACROSTIC, CROSSWORD, KENKEN and SUDOKU. The shared feature is that each tile starts the name of a puzzle associated with the NYT's print puzzle offerings.
Reveal All 4 Groups
See the four complete group answers only when you're ready.
Yellow Group
PUTPLACE · POSITION · SITUATE · STICK
Why They Connect
Each verb can mean putting something in a location. STICK has this informal use in “stick it on the shelf”; it does not have to mean attaching something with glue.
Green Group
DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTSCHEST · NECK · SLEEVE · WAIST
Why They Connect
These are measurements used to size or fit a dress shirt. SLEEVE refers to sleeve length, while CHEST, NECK and WAIST describe other dimensions of the fit.
Blue Group
2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH “THE”DECEMBERISTS · NATIONAL · SHINS · WALKMEN
Why They Connect
Add THE to get The Decemberists, The National, The Shins and The Walkmen, bands associated with the 2000s indie rock scene. The category concerns that era, not a claim that all four bands formed during those years.
Purple Group
STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLESACRO · CROSS · KEN · SUD
Why They Connect
Extend the fragments to ACROSTIC, CROSSWORD, KENKEN and SUDOKU. The shared feature is that each tile starts the name of a puzzle associated with the NYT's print puzzle offerings.
How Our Connections Hints Work
Choose a word to understand its meaning and why it might be tricky in this puzzle.
For each group, reveal a small nudge, the four words, the connection, or the explanation separately.
Reveal All 4 Groups shows the complete answers when you are ready.