In New York Times Connections, sort 16 words into four groups of four. Today’s links use meanings, physical form, product names, and a pattern at the starts of words.
NYT Connections #1225 Puzzle Overview: 18 October 2026
CHEST, INCENSE, and MISTER each have more than one meaning. Check the starts of words when their whole meanings do not seem to match.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: ANGEL, BUTTER, HAZEL, DEODORANT, COCO, DYNAMITE, MISTER, FOGERTY, CHEST, INCENSE, VAPORETTO, BUREAU, OBSESSION, TRUNK, OPIUM, WARDROBE.
NYT Connections Hints: 18 October 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
- Think of household storage.
- Each can hold clothing.
Step 2 · one word
BUREAU
Step 3 · category
PLACES TO STORE CLOTHES
Step 4 · all four words
BUREAU, CHEST, TRUNK, WARDROBE
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about the form in which these items are sold or used.
- Each can have a long, narrow, solid form.
Step 2 · one word
BUTTER
Step 3 · category
THINGS THAT COME IN STICKS
Step 4 · all four words
BUTTER, DEODORANT, DYNAMITE, INCENSE
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think of names used for a retail product.
- The product is worn for its scent.
Step 2 · one word
ANGEL
Step 3 · category
FAMOUS PERFUMES
Step 4 · all four words
ANGEL, COCO, OBSESSION, OPIUM
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- The link is wordplay at the start of each word.
- Each opening spells something that can make the air harder to see through.
Step 2 · one word
FOGERTY
Step 3 · category
STARTING WITH THINGS THAT CLOUD THE AIR
Step 4 · all four words
FOGERTY, HAZEL, MISTER, VAPORETTO
Less common words explained
- VAPORETTO: A public water bus found especially in Venice.
NYT Connections Answers: 18 October 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)
INCENSE can mean fragrant material burned for its scent or the act of making someone angry. Its smoke may suggest the purple group’s air theme, but INCENSE belongs to green because it comes in sticks.
FOGERTY starts with FOG, HAZEL with HAZE, MISTER with MIST, and VAPORETTO with VAPOR.
Yesterday’s groups for 17 October 2026
- DIGITAL NOTIFICATIONS: ALERT, CHIME, DING, PING
- PHOTO: PRINT, SHOT, SNAP, STILL
- KINDS OF CRABS: FIDDLER, HERMIT, KING, SNOW
- LA ___: BOHÈME, BREA, PAZ, SCALA
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: 17 Oct · 16 Oct · 15 Oct · 14 Oct · 13 Oct · 12 Oct · 11 Oct
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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