Yesterday · Puzzle #1,322
Yesterday Connections Answer
Thu, Oct 8, 2026Updated
Spoiler-safe. Nothing is grouped until you open it. Start with a single nudge per group, then the category names, then the full solution only if you need it.
That day's 16 words
the grid, ungroupedHEEDSMINDSREGARDSRESPECTSBESTECLIPSESURPASSTOPCHEERSSTOOGESSTRIKESWISHESAUTOCRUISEFOOLHARDYMULHOLLANDTHANKS
Hints by group
reveal only what you needYellow groupeasiest
See a hint
One answer is REGARDS
See the category
FOLLOWS, AS RULES
See the 4 words
HEEDS · MINDS · REGARDS · RESPECTS
Green groupmedium
See a hint
One answer is SURPASS
See the category
OUTDO
See the 4 words
BEST · ECLIPSE · SURPASS · TOP
Blue grouptricky
See a hint
One answer is STRIKES
See the category
THINGS THAT COME IN THREES
See the 4 words
CHEERS · STOOGES · STRIKES · WISHES
Purple grouphardest
See a hint
One answer is MULHOLLAND
See the category
ENDING IN ACTORS NAMED TOM
See the 4 words
AUTOCRUISE · FOOLHARDY · MULHOLLAND · THANKS
The four categories
Reveal the four category names
FOLLOWS, AS RULESYellow
OUTDOGreen
THINGS THAT COME IN THREESBlue
ENDING IN ACTORS NAMED TOMPurple
The full answer
Reveal all four groups
FOLLOWS, AS RULESYellow
HEEDS · MINDS · REGARDS · RESPECTS
OUTDOGreen
BEST · ECLIPSE · SURPASS · TOP
THINGS THAT COME IN THREESBlue
CHEERS · STOOGES · STRIKES · WISHES
ENDING IN ACTORS NAMED TOMPurple
AUTOCRUISE · FOOLHARDY · MULHOLLAND · THANKS
Today's hintsThis week's answersAnswer archive2026 answersPlay unlimitedConnections SolverHow to play
Background & guide
Yesterday's Connections, explained
Here are the four groups from yesterday's Connections, sorted from the easiest yellow group to the trickiest purple. If you came close but missed by one, it was probably the purple category — that's where the New York Times usually hides the wordplay and the misdirection.
Playing today instead? Head to today's hints, where nothing is grouped until you open it. Older puzzles live in the answer archive, grouped by year.
FAQ
How is yesterday's answer laid out?
Open the reveal to see each of the four groups with its category name and four words, sorted from the easy yellow group to the tricky purple one.
Why is purple usually the hardest group?
Purple is where Connections hides the wordplay — puns, hidden words or a shared pattern rather than a plain theme — so it's the group most players leave for last.
How do the colours rank the groups?
Yellow is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is usually the trickiest. The colours are the puzzle's own difficulty order.