In New York Times Connections, sort 16 words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use expressions formed by putting a season’s name before each entry.
NYT Connections #1254 Puzzle Overview: 16 November 2026
CHICKEN and GARDEN each have more than one meaning. Test whether the same word can go before every entry in a possible set.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: IN LOVE, WONDERLAND, WATER, MELON, ONION, BLOCKBUSTER, GARDEN, FOLIAGE, SAUSAGE, GLOVES, ASLEEP, CHICKEN, CLEANING, CAMP, GUY, SCHOOL.
NYT Connections Hints: 16 November 2026
Each of the four color groups below opens in four steps: hints, one word, the category name, then all four words. Stop at the step that gives enough help.
Yellow group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look for a shared word that goes in front.
- The shared opener names the hottest season.
Step 2 · one word
BLOCKBUSTER
Step 3 · category
SUMMER ___
Step 4 · all four words
BLOCKBUSTER, CAMP, SAUSAGE, SCHOOL
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- These entries complete expressions with the same opening word.
- The opening word names the season associated with fresh growth.
Step 2 · one word
CLEANING
Step 3 · category
SPRING ___
Step 4 · all four words
CHICKEN, CLEANING, ONION, WATER
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Try adding the same word before each entry.
- The missing word names the coldest season.
Step 2 · one word
GLOVES
Step 3 · category
WINTER ___
Step 4 · all four words
GARDEN, GLOVES, MELON, WONDERLAND
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- A shared opening word connects these expressions.
- The opener is an American seasonal name that also means to drop downward.
Step 2 · one word
ASLEEP
Step 3 · category
FALL ___
Step 4 · all four words
ASLEEP, FOLIAGE, GUY, IN LOVE
NYT Connections Answers: 16 November 2026
Step 4 of each group above holds its answer. The full solved grid and notes on today’s tricky words are folded below.
Full solved grid
Tricky words (spoilers)
GARDEN can mean a planted area or to tend plants. It may suggest the spring group, but it belongs to the winter group here. Yellow forms summer BLOCKBUSTER, summer CAMP, summer SAUSAGE, and summer SCHOOL.
Green forms spring CHICKEN, spring CLEANING, spring ONION, and spring WATER. Blue forms winter GARDEN, winter GLOVES, winter MELON, and winter WONDERLAND.
Purple forms fall ASLEEP, fall FOLIAGE, fall GUY, and fall IN LOVE. The opening word is a verb in fall ASLEEP and fall IN LOVE. In fall FOLIAGE, it names the season.
Yesterday’s groups for 15 November 2026
- UNMATCHED: ALL-TIME, HISTORIC, RECORD, UNPRECEDENTED
- WEDDING WEBSITE SECTIONS: DRESS CODE, REGISTRY, RSVP, TRAVEL
- ___ PLANE: ASTRAL, CARTESIAN, INCLINED, JET
- ENDING IN VEGETABLES IN THE ALLIUM FAMILY: ARCHIVE, OCTONION, RAPSCALLION, SLEEK
More Connections: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play Connections on The New York Times
Also today: Wordle · Strands · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle · NYT Crossword · NYT Mini · NYT Midi · Jumble · Spelling Bee · Letter Boxed · Parseword · Poeltl
Earlier days: 15 Nov · 14 Nov · 13 Nov · 12 Nov · 11 Nov · 10 Nov · 9 Nov
Questions about Connections
When does Connections change to a new puzzle?
A new puzzle arrives at midnight in the player’s own time zone.
How many tries does a player get in Connections?
The game ends after four mistakes.
Where can a person play Connections?
Play on The New York Times Games site or in the NYT Games app: Connections.
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